IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-S) 


Zk 

^ 


z 


i 


z 


f/. 


1.0    ^i^  1^ 


11.25 


Hi 

us 


2.2 


I.I     l*^  H^ 

=      m 


1.4 


—    6" 


V] 


(?^ 


^^!^/  .^^ 


* 


Hiotographic 

Scmces 

Corporalion 


23  WBT  MAIN  STRUT 

WIBSTfR,N.Y.  U5M 

(716)S72-4303 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CiHM/ICIVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


<\ 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notas/Notat  tachniquaa  at  bibliogre  t'-iiquaa 


Tha  instituta  hat  attamptad  to  obtain  tha  baat 
original  copy  availabia  for  filming.  Faaturaa  of  thia 
copy  which  may  ba  bibliographically  uniqua, 
which  may  altar  any  of  tha  imagaa  in  tha 
raproduction,  or  which  may  aignificantly  changa 
tha  uaual  mathod  of  filming,  ara  chackad  balow. 


D 


D 


n 


.  n 


D 


n 


Colourad  covara/ 
Couvartura  da  coulaur 


I     i   Covara  damagad/ 


Couvartura  andommagAa 


Covars  raatored  and/or  laminatad/ 
Couvartura  raataurte  at/ou  palliculAa 


I      I   Covar  titia  missing/ 


La  titra  da  couvartura  manqua 


□   Colourad  maps/ 
Cartas  gtegraphiquas  0n  coulaur 


Coloured  init  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


I      I   Coloured  plates  and/or  iiluatrationa/ 


Planches  et/ou  iiluatrationa  en  coulaur 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
RaliA  avac  d'autres  documents 


ry\    Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 


along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  liure  serrie  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 

diatortion  la  long  de  la  marge  IntArieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  aa  peut  que  certainaa  pages  blanches  ajout^es 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dana  la  taxte, 
mais,  loraqua  cela  Atait  poasibla,  cea  pages  n'ont 
pas  AtA  film4as. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplAmantairas: 


Tha 
toti 


L'Inatitut  a  microfilm*  la  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  4t6  poaaibla  de  aa  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sent  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographiqua.  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reprodulte,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dana  la  mAthoda  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indlqute  ci-dessous. 


I      I   Coloured  pages/ 


^ 


D 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pagea  damaged/ 
Pages  endommag^as 

Pages  restored  and/oi 

Pages  restaurAas  et/ou  pellicuiies 


r^   Pagea  damaged/ 

I      I   Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 


The 
poat 
oft 
film 


Ori( 

beg 

the 

sion 

oth( 

first 

sion 

oril 


Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  d^colortes,  tachatAes  ou  piquAes 


I      I    Pages  detached/ 


Pages  dAtachies 

Showthroughy 
Transparence 

Quality  of  prin 

Quality  inigala  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  matarii 
Comprend  du  material  supplAmantaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Mition  disponible 


rr]  Showthrough/ 

r~^  Quality  of  print  varies/ 

|~n  Includes  supplementary  material/ 

r~n  Only  edition  available/ 


Tha 
ahal 
TINI 
whii 

Mar 
diffi 
entii 
begi 
righi 
requ 
metl 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiallement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d 'errata,  une  pelure. 
etc..  ont  M  film6es  A  nouveau  de  faqon  d 
obtanir  la  mailleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  tha  reduction  ratio  chackad  below/ 

Ce  document  eat  film*  au  taux  de  rMuction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

>/ 

12X 


16X 


aox 


24X 


28X 


32X 


Th«  copy  filmed  her*  hat  b««n  reproduced  thanka 
to  the  generoaity  of: 

Morifsvt  Libnry 
Univtraity  of  Ottawa 

The  imagea  appearing  here  are  the  beat  quaiity 
poaaibie  conaidering  the  condition  and  iegibiiity 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  apacificationa. 


Original  copiea  in  printed  paper  covera  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illuatrated  imprea- 
aion,  or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copiea  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
firat  page  with  a  printed  or  illuatrated  imprea- 
aion.  and  ending  on  the  laat  page  with  a  printed 
or  illuatrated  impreaaion. 


The  laat  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
ahall  contain  the  aymbol  -^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  aymbol  y  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  appliea. 


L'exemplaire  film*  fut  reproduit  grAce  it  la 
gAniroaitA  da: 

Bibiiothique  IMorisset 
Univareiti  d'Ottawa 

Lea  imagea  auivantea  ont  Ati  reproduitea  avec  le 
plua  grand  aoin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettetA  de  l'exemplaire  film6,  et  en 
conformity  avec  las  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmaga. 

Lea  exemplairaa  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  eat  imprimte  aont  filmte  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  at  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  una  empreinte 
d'impreaaion  ou  d'illuatration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  aalon  le  caa.  Toua  lea  autrea  exemplairaa 
originaux  aont  filmte  en  commengant  par  la 
pramlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impreaaion  ou  d'illuatration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  darnlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  dea  aymbolea  suivanta  apparaftra  sur  la 
dernlAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  aalon  le 
caa:  le  aymbole  — ►  aignifie  "A  SUIVRE",  la 
aymbole  ▼  aignifie  "FIN". 


Mapa,  plates,  charta,  etc.,  mey  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratioa.  Thoae  too  lerge  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  expoaure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  aa  many  framea  aa 
required.  The  following  diagrama  illuatrate  the 
method: 


Lea  cartaa,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
filmte  A  das  taux  da  reduction  diffArents. 
Lorsque  le  document  eat  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  aeul  clichA,  il  eat  filmA  A  partir 
de  Tangle  aupArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  drolte, 
et  de  haut  an  baa,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'imagea  nAceaaaire.  Lea  diagrammea  auivants 
illustrent  la  mAthoda. 


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west  Coast  fublishcd  by  order  of  the  Senate  of  the  rutted 

States    dra\vitln- \)ikxu\  W.WxiVT. 

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MEMOIR, 


HISTORICAL  AND  POLITICAL, 

> 


ON  THE 


NORTHWEST  COAST  OF  NORTH  AMERICA, 


AND  THE 


ADJACENT   TERRITORIES; 


UiCUSTRATEO  BY 


A  MAP  AND  A  GEOGRAPHICAL  VIEW  OF  THOSE  COUNTRIES. 


TRANSLATOR   AND   LIBRARIAN  TO   THE   DEPARTMENT   OP  STATE.      '    '/k  /     ?/) 


BY  ROBERT  GREENHOW, 


^1 


li 


WILEY      AND      PUTNAM, 
BROADWAY,     NEW-YORK, 

AND 

PATERNOSTER  ROW,  LONDON. 


1840 


K-^' 


'ooiversitas^ 
BIBLIOTHECA 

ttavans'v* 


^ 


J       . 


1 


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li4o 


PREFACE, 


i 


The  following  correspondence,  between  the  Chairman  of  the  Commit' 
tee  of  the  Senate  on  the  Oregon  Territory  and  the  SocnUary  of  State,  to- 
gether with  extracts  from  the  Journal  of  the  Senate,  will  soi  vo  to  show 
the  circumstances  under  which  tliis  Memoir  has  been  written  and  pub- 
lished. 

Wasiiinoton,  7rt/tMflrry  25, 1840. 

Sir  :  I  am  informed  that  your  department  is  in  possession  of  much  in- 
formation relating  to  the  territory  of  Oregon,  its  geography,  resources, 
and  the  title  of  the  United  States  to  the  same.  If  consistent  with  your 
duty,  I  would  he  pleased  to  be  put  in  possession  of  such  papers  and 
documents  as  you  may  think  proper  to  send  me,  requesting  that  you  will 
mark  such  as  you  would  ruther  not  have  printed  or  made  public. 

Your  obedient  servant, 

I..  F.  TilNN, 
Chairman  of  the  Select  Committee 

on  the  Territory  of  Oregon. 
Hon.  John  Forsyth,  Secretary  of  State. 

I  Ansioer. 

Department  op  State, 

Washington,  January  26,  1840. 

Sin :  I  have  had  the  honor  to  receive  your  letter  of  this  day's  date,  ask- 
ing for  information  relative  to  the  territory  of  Oregon,  its  geography  and 
resources,  and  the  title  of  the  United  States  to  the  same.  Mr.  Greenhow, 
the  translator  and  librarian  of  this  department,  has  been  for  some  time 
past,  by  my  direction,  employed  in  collecting  and  arranging  historical  in- 
formation on  the  subiect  of  the  northwestern  coasts  of  America ;  I  send 
you  the  result  of  his  labors,  and  submit  it  to  the  discretion  of  the  com- 
mittee to  be  printed  or  not,  as  they  may  think  most  advisable.  Not  hav- 
ing had  the  leisure  to  compare  the  statements  in  the  Memoir  with  the  va- 
rious works  and  documents  upon  which  they  are  founded,  I  can  vouch 
only  for  the  zeal,  industry,  and  good  faith  of  Mr.  Greenhow,  by  whom 
they  were  prepared. 

I  am,  sir,  your  most  obedient  servant, 
V  JOHN  FORSYTH, 

Secretary  of  State. 
Hon.  Lewis  F.  Linn, 

Senator  of  the  United  States. 


I 

'i 


^. 


IV 

FVom  the  Journal  of  the  Senate  of  the  United  States. 

"  Monday,  February  10,  1840. — On  motion  by  Mr.  Linn, 
"  Ordered^  That  a  history  of  the  northwest  coast  of  North  America  and 
the  adjacent  territories,  conmiunicated  to  the  Select  Committee  on  the 
Oregon  Territory,  be  printed,  with  the  accompanying  map ;  and  that  two 
thousand  five  hundred  copies,  in  addition  to  the  usual  number,  be  printed 
for  the  use  of  the  Senate." 

"Wednesday,  February  12, 1840. — On  motion  by  Mr.  Linn, 

"  Ordered,  That  the  history  of  the  northwest  coast  of  North  America, 

ordered  to  be  printed  on  the  10th  instant,  be  printed  under  the  direction 

of  Mr.  Greenhow." 

The  Memoir  relates  principally  to  the  southern  and  middle  portions 
of  the  northwest  coast  of  this  continent  and  the  adjoining  territories, 
which  have  for  many  years  formed  the  subjects  of  discussions  between 
the  Governments  of  the  United  States,  Great  Britain,  and  Russia ;  and 
it  is  designed  to  show  the  origin,  nature,  and  extent  of  the  several  claims, 
in  order  to  afford  the  means  of  correctly  estimating  the  justice  of  each. 
In  prosecuting  these  objects,  it  has  been  found  necessary  to  trace  the 
whole  progress  of  discovery  and  settlement,  not  only  in  the  territories 
above  mentioned,  but  also  in  those  farther  north,  in  which  the  exclusive 
right  of  the  Russians  to  form  establishments  has  been  recognised  by  the 
other  Powers,  and  in  the  region  called  California,  on  the  south,  which 
constitutes  a  part  of  the  Mexican  republic.  With  this  view,  the  original 
authorities  have  been  carefully  examined  and  compared,  and  the  facts 
thus  elicited  are  here  related  concisely  or  at  length,  as  their  general  im- 
portance or  their  bearing  upon  the  chief  objects  of  the  Memoir  appeared 
to  justify. 

Expeditions  for  the  purposes  of  discovery,  trade,  or  settlement,  and 
disputes  between  the  Governments  or  the  people  of  distant  civilized  na- 
tions, have  afforded,  as  yet,  the  only  materials  for  the  history  of  this 
section  of  America ;  and  those  materials  have  remained  scattered  through 
the  annals  of  other  countries,  the  journals  of  voyages  and  travels,  and 
official  or  private  reports  and  letters,  the  correctness  of  which  could  not 
be  ascertained  without  great  labor  and  research.  Accounts  of  all  these 
expeditions  and  discussions  are  here  presented,  arranged  in  the  form 
of  a  regular  narrative,  so  as  to  embrace  a  complete  history  of  the  west- 
em  portion  of  our  continent — if  it  be  allowable  to  speak  of  the  history  of 
a  country  which  still  remains  almost  entirely  in  a  state  of  nature. 

This  work  is,  however,  not  strictly  a  history;  nor  is  it  merely  an  ar- 
gument in  support  of  the  title  of  the  United  States  to  the  possession 
of  the  territories  in  dispute.  The  writer  has  endeavored,  agreeably  to 
Ihe  directions  of  Mr.  Forsyth,  to  afford  a  clear  and  distinct  view  of  the 


^ 


!■ 


ites. 

1  America  and 
mittee  on  the 
,  and  that  two 
iber,  be  printed 

jlNN, 

»Iorth  America, 
ir  the  direction 


fiiddle  portions 
ling  territories, 
isions  between 
i  Russia;  and 
several  claims, 
ustice  of  each, 
ry  to  trace  the 
I  the  territories 
h  the  exclusive 
cognised  by  the 
e  south,  which 
ew,  the  original 
I,  and  the  facts 
lieir  general  im- 
demoir  appeared 


pretensions  of  each  of  the  claimant  Powers,  and  of  the  circumstances 
on  which  they  are  based.  Although  he  has,  for  the  sake  of  complete- 
ness, introduced  some  facts  and  reasonings  not  directly  relevant  to  those 
objects,  he  has,  on  the  other  hand,  suppressed  none  which,  if  given, 
might  have  led  to  conclusions  more  nearly  just. 

In  illustration  of  the  Memoir,  a  geographical  accoimt  of  the  western 
section  of  North  America  has  been  prefixed  to  it,  together  with  a  map  of 
those  countries,  drawn  from  the  best  authorities  which  could  be  procured, 
The  geographical  account  has  been  necessarily  much  compressed,  the 
limits  of  the  work  not  permitting  details;  while  the  map  is,  on  the 
whole,  much  fuller  than  any  other  of  that  part  of  the  world  which  has 
yet  been  published.  With  regard  to  the  correctness  of  the  descrip- 
tions, the  coast  will,  it  is  believed,  be  found  represented  with  sufficient 
accuracy,  both  in  the  account,  and  on  the  map;  but  the  interior  of  the 
continent,  from  the  Pacific  to  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and,  indeed,  to  the. 
vicinity  of  the  Mississippi,  has  been  as  yet  so  imperfectly  examined,  that 
very  little  precise  topographical  information  respecting  it  can  be  procured. 

Great  care  has  been  taken  to  present  the  dates  of  the  several  occur- 
rences, and  the  authorities  on  which  they  are  recounted,  so  that  the 
reader  will  have  the  means  of  satisfying  himself  as  to  the  truth  of 
each  statement ;  with  regard  to  the  reasonings  and  deductions,  he  must 
rely  upon  his  own  powers  of  discrimination. 

Washington,  Mai/  12, 1840. 


4!   ■ 


ir 


settlement,  and 
ant  civilized  na- 
!  history  of  this 
cattered  through 
and  travels,  and 
which  could  not  | 
unts  of  all  these  | 
ged  in  the  form  | 
tory  of  the  west- 
of  the  history  of 
te  of  nature, 
it  merely  an  ar- 
te the  possession 
red,  agreeably  to 
stinct  view  of  the 


«: 


I 


Introductic 
Great  natu 
Political  d 
Claims  of  < 
General  vi 
Descriptioi 
Descripiioi 
General  vi 
Particular 
First  regie 
Second  re§ 
Third  regi 
The  Colur 


MEMOIR 


Vcar. 

1193. 
1495. 
1499. 
1500. 
1513. 
1517. 
1520, 
1523. 


A 
T 
F 
D 
D 
E 
V 
C 


1532. 


1534. 

^   1535. 

1536. 

B 
V 
C 

i   1539. 

1 

V 

J< 

1540- '3. 

E 
V 

E 

1547. 
1564. 

E 
E 

E 
P 

1578 '80.  "V 
1580.   V 

1587. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


«EOGRAPHY  OF  THE  WESTERN  SECTION  OP  NORTH  AMERICA. 


Introduction   ----...- 

Great  natural  divisions  of  the  western  section  of  North  America 
Political  divisions      ....... 

Claims  of  Great  Britain,  Russia,  the  United  States,  and  Mexico    • 
General  view  of  the  whole  coast      .  -  .  .  - 

Description  of  the  northernmost  territories  of  the  western  section 
Description  of  the  southern  portion,  or  California  -  .  - 

General  view  of  the  mountam-ridges  of  the  western  section 
Particular  description  of  Oregon,  or  the  country  drained  by  the  Columbia 
First  region  of  Oregon,  or  low  country         .... 

Second  region,  or  middle  counlrij      ..... 

Thirdi  region,  OT  upper  country  ..... 

The  Columbia  and  its  branches        ..... 


Page. 

1 
1 

2 

a 

8 
4 

9 

•  11 

•  12 

•  14 

-  16' 

-  17 

-  18 


MEMOIR,    HISTORICAL    AND     PC  "TICAL,    ON    THE    NORTHWEST    COAST    OK 
NORTH    AMERICA,  AND    THE    ADJACENT   TERRITORIES. 


Year. 

1493. 
1495. 
1499. 
1500. 
1513. 
1517. 
1520. 
1523. 


1532. 

1534. 
1535. 
1536. 

1539. 


1540'3. 


1547. 
1564. 


1578 '80 
1580. 

1587. 


Page. 
21 


America  discovered,  and  supposed  to  be  connected  with  Asia     - 
Treaty  of  Partition  between  8pain  and  Portugal  .... 

First  voyage  from  Europe  to  India,  by  Gama,  around  Alrica 

Discovery  of  the  Strait  of  Anian  (prabably  Hudson's  Strait)  by  Cortereal 

Discovery  of  the  Pacific  Ocean  by  Balboa  .... 

Discovery  of  Mexico  by  Grijalva    ...... 

Voyage  of  Magellan  from  Europe  to  India,  westward  across  the  Pacific 
Conquest  of  Mexico  completed  by  Cortes,  who  explores  the  adjacent  coasts  m 

search  of  rich  countries  and  passages  for  ships  between  the  Atlantic  and  the 

Pacific       ..-...-... 
Voyages  of  Hurtado  Mendoza,  Grijalva,  and  Becerra  in  the  north  Pacific,  by 

order  of  Cortes     ......... 

Becerra  discovers  the  southern  extremity  of  California    .... 

Voyage  of  Cortes  in  the  Gulf  of  California  ..... 

Cabeza  Vaca  completes  his  journey  across  the  continent,  from  Florida  to  the 

Californian  Gull  ......... 

Voyage  of  Ulloa,  who  discovers  the  west  coast  of  California  to  the  30th  degree 

of  latitude-  ......... 

Journey  of  Friar  Marcos  de  Niza,  who  pretends  to  have  discovered  a  rich 

country,  called  Cibola,  northwest  of  Mexico      ..... 
ExpeditionsofAlarcon  and  Coronado  in  search  of  Cibola  ... 

Voyage  of  Cabrillo  and  Perrelo,  who  discover  the  west  coast  to  the  43d  degree 

of  latitude  -..--..... 
Expedition  of  Villalobos  from  Mexico  to  India,  and  discovery  of  the  Philippine 

Islands      .......... 

Death  of  Cortes       ......... 

Expedition  of  Legaspi  from  Mexico  to  India ;  conquest  of  the  Philippine  Islands, 

and  discovery  of  the  mode  of  navigating  the  Pacific  from  west  to  ea,st,  by  IJr- 

danete  .......... 

Establishment  of  the  Spanish  trade  between  America  and  India 

Prohibitory  measures  of  the  Spaniards  against  the  trade  or  settlement  of  other 

nations  in  America  .-..-... 

Voyage  of  Francis  Drake,  who  visits  the  northwest  coast  -  -  30, 201 

Voyage  of  Gali  from  China  to  Mexico,  in  which  he  sails  along  the  northwest 

coast         ..........31 

VoyageofCavendisharound  the  world     ......     37 


21 
22 
39 
22 
22 
22 


S3 

24 
S4 

25 


26 

S8 
29 

30 

32 
28 


!r 


% 


,!'i 


Till 


w 


Year.  Page. 

1587.  Attempts  of  the  English  to  discover  passages  for  ships  between  the  Atlantic  and 

the  Pacific  Oceans,  causing  great  uneasiness  to  the  Spanish  Government 

1588.  Pretended  northern  voyage  ot  Maldonado  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific 
15'J2.       Voyageof.Tuan  de  Fuca  along  the  northwest  coast 
131)4.       Voyage  of  Cermenon,  who  is  wrecked  on  the  Bay  of  San  Francisco 

Spanish  Government  orders  colonies  to  be  established  in  California 
1590.       Voyage  of  Vizcaino  in  the  Gulf  of  California       ..... 

l{)02.       Survey  of  the  west  coast  to  the  43d  degree  of  latitude  by  Vizcaino 
lt)03.       Supposed  discovery  of  a  great  river,  near  the  43d  degree,  by  Aguilar,  in  one  of 
Vizcaino's  vessels  ........ 

lOlO.       Discovery  of  Hudson's  Bay  by  Hudson     .-..-. 
IGIO.       Discovery  of  the  navigation  around  Cape  Horn,  by  Lemaire  and  Van  Schouten 
1640.       Supposed  northern  voyage  of  Fonte  from  the  Pacific  to  the  Atlantic 
1013.       Voyage  of  De  Vries  in  the  Pacific,  north  of  Japan  .  .  .  - 

ltJ6[).       Charter  given  to  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  by  King  Charles  II.  of  England  - 

Unsuccessful  ailempls  of  the  Spaniards  to  plani  colonies  in  Caliiornia    - 
1097.       The  Jesuits  undertake  the  reduction  of  California  for  the  King  of  Spain 

The  Russians  conquer  Kamschatka  ...... 

1700.  Father  Kuhn,  a  Jesuit,  ascertains  that  California  is  connected  with  the  Amer- 
ican continent       ...--.... 

1711.  Peter  the  Great,  Czar  of  Russia,  forms  plans  for  exploring  the  seas  eastof  Kam- 

schatka, and  for  extending  his  dominion  to  America     .  .  -  - 

1712.  Louis  XIV.,  King  of  France,  grants  Louisiana  to  Crozat  ... 
Supposed  extent  of  Louisiana  at  that  time             ..... 

1714.  Treaty  of  Utrecht  between  Great  Britain  and  France,  no  boundary-line  estab- 
lished in  America  asjreeably  to  its  provisions    ....         150,  216 

1728.       Voyage  of  Beering,  by  order'of  the  Empress  Catherine  of  Russia,  from  Kam- 
schatka into  the  Arctic  Sea         ....... 

The  sea  east  of  Kamschatka  ascertained  to  be  a  part  of  the  Pacific 

1741.  Voyageof  Beering  and  Tschirikof  to  America    .  .  -  -  - 
Beering  discovers  the  American  continent  near  Mount  Saint  Elias 
Beering  is  wrecked  on  one  of  the  Aleutian  Islands,  where  he  dies 
Tschirikof  discovers  America  near  the  5Gth  degree  of  latitude,  and  returns  to 

Kamschatka         ......... 

1742.  The  survivors  of  Beering's  crew  return  to  Kamschatka,  and  begin  the  fur  trade 

between  that  country  and  the  islands  eastward  of  it      .... 

I7r)2        France  cedes  Louisiana  to  Spain    ....... 

1763.       France  cedes  Canada  to  England  ...---- 

General  peace;  British  and  French  voyages  of  discovery  ... 

1766.       Voyage  of  Svnd 

1766- '8.  Journey  of  Carver  through  the  country  west  of  Lake  Superior  - 

1768.  Voyageof Kreniizin  and  Levashef  from  Kam.schatka      .... 
Expulsion  of  the  Jesuits  from  America     ...... 

1769.  Establishment  of  the  first  colonies  on  the  west  coast  of  North  America  by  the 

Spaniards  •  -  -  •  -  •     .     - 

1769-'72. Journeys  of  Heame,  west  and  northwest  from  Hudson's  Bay,  to  the  Arctic  Sea 

1770.  Dispute  between  Great  Britain  and  Spain  about  the  Falkland  Islands    - 

1771.  First  voyage  from  Kamschatka  to  China,  by  a  party  of  Polish  exiles,  under 

Count  Benyowsky  ........ 

1774.  Voyage  of  the  Spaniards,  under  Perez,  along  ihe  northwest  coast  to  the  53d  de- 

gree of  latitude     ......... 

1775.  Voyage  of  the  Spaniards,  under  Heceta,  Bodega,  and  Maurellc,  to  the  58th  de- 

gree of  latitude     ......... 

Heceta  discovers  the  mouth  of  a  river,  named  by  him  San  Roque,  now  called 
the  Columbia       ......... 

1776.  Captain  Cook  sails  from  England  for  the  Pacific,  in  search  of  a  norlhem  pas- 

sage from  that  sea  to  the  Atlantic  ...... 

1778.  Cook  examines  the  northwest  coast  of  America  to  the  70th  degree 

1779.  Death  of  Cook  and  of  his  .successor  Clerke       .  .  -  -  - 
The  English,  under  Gore,  on  their  way  to  England,  carry  to  Canton  the  first 

furs  wnich  entered  that  place  by  sea      ...... 

Voyage  of  the  Spaniards  under  Arteaga,  Bodega,  and  Maurelle,  to  Prince  Wil- 
liam's Sound        ......... 

1783.  Association  of  merchants  in  Siberia  for  carrying  on  the  fur  trade 
Expedition  under  Shellikof,  who  establishes  settlements  on  the  Island  of  Kodiak 

1784.  Publication  of  the  Journals  of  Cook's  Voyage      ..... 
Preparations  begun  in  many  countries  for  carrying  on  the  fur  trade  between 

Northwest  America  and  China  --...--87 


3i) 
40,205 
42,  207 
.  44 
•  44 
-      44 

44 


46 
47 
47 
41 
58 
75 
48 
48 
58 

59 

150 
150 
150 


59 
60 
60 
61 
63 

63 

61 

75 

149 

51 

66 
76 
66 
50 

52 
75 
54 

66 

69 


70 


78 
79 
83 

83 

84 
88 
88 
66 


Year. 
1786. 

1787. 


1789. 


1 


1790. 


4 

I 


1791. 


1792, 


IX 


Page. 

Ltlantic  and 
nnient        -      3!> 
acific        40, 203 
1-2,  207 

-  44 
..      44 

-  44 
44 


r,  in  one  of 

ti  Schouten 

England  - 

3aia 

the  Amer- 

istofKam- 


4G 
47 
47 
41 
58 
75 
48 
48 
58 

5» 

-  150 

-  150 
■  150 

•line  eslab- 

150,  216 
"rem  Kam- 

-  59 

-  eo 

-  60 

-  61 

-  63 


returns  to 
e  fur  trade 


rica  by  the 
Lrctic  Sea 
!es,  under 
he  53d  de- 
le 58lh  de- 
Low  called 
them  pas- 

n  the  first 
ince  Wil- 

}f  Kodiak 
;  between 


63 

61 
75 
149 
51 
66 
76 
66 
50 

52 

75 
54 

66 

69 

70 

72 

78 
79 
83 

83 

84 
88 
88 
86 


?  Year. 
1786. 

■;  1787. 


I 


i 


.:  1788. 


1789. 


1790. 


1791. 


1792. 


Page. 

Voyage  of  the  French,  under  La  Pcrouse,  from  Mount  Saint  Elias  to  Monterey      88 
Bofkely  discovers  the  Slrai  of  Fuca  ...  -  -  -      91 

Voyages  of  Porilock  and  Dixon    ......  .92 

Sept.  30.  The  ship  Columbia,  Capt.  Kendriek,  and  sloop  Washington,  Captain 

Gray,  sail  togeiher  from  Boston  for  the  north  Pacific    •  -  -  -      89 

Forma. ion  of  the  Northwest  Fur  trading  Company  of  Montreal  .  -    139 

Captains  Kendriek  and  Gray  arrive  at  Nootka,  where  they  spend  the  following 
winter       ..........      90 

Voyages  of  Meares  and  Douglas  from  Macao  to  the  northwest  coast        -  -    100 

Meares  attbmpts  to  find  the  River  San  Roque,  and  pronounces  that  none  suih 
exists        ..........93 

Voyage  of  the  Spaniards,  under  Martinez  and  Haro,  to  observe  the  progress  of 
the  Russians  ou  the  north  Pacific  toasts  -  -  -  -  -  -      96 

Attempt  of  Ledyard  to  pass,  through  Russia  and  America,  from  Paris  to  the 
United  States '      .  -  -  .  .  -  -  -  -      94 

Martinez  and  Haro  sent  by  the  Viceroy  of  Mexico  to  occupy  Nootka    -  -      97 

Complaints  addressed  by  the  Spanish  Government  to  that  of  Russia  against  the 

encroachments  of  Russians  in  America  -  -  •  -  -      97 

The  Spaniards  occupy  ^ootka,  and  seize  vessels  which  are  said  to  be  the  prop- 
erty of  British  subjects    .......         104,  212 

Captain  Groy  first  sails  around  Clueen  Charlotte's  Island,  to  which  he  gives  the 

nnme  of  Washington  Island         ...  -  -  .      92 

The  Spaniards  quit  Nootka;  which  they,  however,  reoecupy  in  the  following 
spring,  under  the  command  of  Elisa       ......    117 

The  owners  of  ihe  vessels  seized  at  Nootka  complain  to  the  British  Government, 
which  demands  satisfaction  from  that  of  Spain  -  ....    m 

The  King  of  Spain  asks  aid  from  Louis  XVI.  of  France  to  resist  the  demand, 
which  is  refused  by  the  National  As>.embly  of  France   ....    113 

Spain  pi omises  satisfaction  to  Great  Britain  .....    114 

Oct.  5i8.  A  convention  is  signed  between  those  Powers,  respecting  the  naviga- 
tion of  thel'acific  and  the  right  of  occiipving  its  vacant  American  coasts       -    114 
Remarks  maile  on  that  convention  in  the  British  Parliament        -  .  -    115 

The  Spaniards  from  Nootka  endeavor  to  explore  the  northwest  coasts    -  -    118 

Voyages  of  Fidalgo  and  Quimper  .......    118 

Voyage  of  the  Russians,  under  Billings,  from  Kam'^chaika  ...    123 

Observations  on  the  nature  and  duration  of  the  engagements  entered  into  be- 
tween Great  Britain  and  Spain  by  the  convention  of  ( ictober  28         -  -    171 
Captain  Vancouver  sent  from  England  with  two  ships  to  explore  the  northwest 
coasts  of  America,  and  as  commissioner  to  receive  the  lands  and  buildings  at 
Nootka,  to  be  restored  by  the  Spaniards  according  to  the  convention  of  1790    118 
Voyages  of  ihe  Spaniards  under  Malaspina  and  Elisa      -           -           -           -     118 

Voyage  of  Marchand  in  the  French  ship  Solide   .....    119 

Seven  vessels  arrive  from  the  United  States  in  the  north  Pacific,  to  be  employed 
in  the  fur  trade     -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -119 

Captain  Ingraham,  in  the  Hope,  from  Boston,  discovers  ihe  Washington  Islands    119 
Captain  Gray,  in  the  Columbia,  from  Boston,  discovers  the  mouth  of  the  great 
river  seen  by  Hecela  in  177.5,  but  cannot  enter  it  ....    120 

Captain  Kendriek,  in  the  Washington,  irom  Boston,  discovers  a  new  passage 
from  Nootka  Sound  to  the  sea,  and  purchases  lands  near  Nootka  from  the 
savages     ..........    121 

He  commences  the  trade  in  sandal-wood   ......    122 

Unsuccessful  voyage  of  the  Russians  from  Kamschatka,  under  Hall  and  Sarets- 

chef 122 

Voyages  of  the  Spaniards  under  Caamano,  and  Galiano  and  Valdes      -  -    122 

The  Spaniards  endeavor,  unsuccessfully,  to  establish  a  new  settlement  on  the 
Strait  of  Fuca      .........    123 

Clueen   Charlotte's,  or  Washington   Island,  explored  and  frequented  by  the 
American  fur-iraders      .......  92, 123 

Captain  Cluadra  arrives  at  Nootka  as  commissioner  on  the  part  of  Spain  to  exe- 
cute the  convention  of  1 7!H)         .......    132 

Vancouver  arrives  on  the  American  coast,  near  Cape  Mendocino  -  -    123 

He  examines  the  coast  northward  to  the  Strait  of  Fuca,  and  pronounces  that 
there  is  no  large  river  or  inlet  there        ......    125 

Gray,  in  the  Columbia,  on  his  way  to  examine  the  river  which  he  had  found  in 
the  preceding  year,  meets  Vancouver  near  the  Strait  of  Fuca,  and  informs  him 
ol  the  discovery,  which  Vancouver  doubts         .....    125 

Gray  discovers  Euljinch's  Harbor,  and  enters  the  great  river,  (May  11,)  which  he 
names  after  his  ship,  the  Columbia         ......    128 


[}  i 


^1 


?'1I 
* 


Year. 
1792. 


1793. 


1794. 
1795. 
1796. 


1797. 


1800. 


1803. 

1804. 
1805. 
1806. 


1807. 
1808. 

1810. 
1811. 

1812. 
1813. 
1814. 


147 


154 
156 
156 


147 
148 

156 

157 
157 
158 

158 
158 
148 
160 
161 
163 


Year. 
1814. 

1817. 
1818. 


i 


Vancouver's  false  synopsis  of  thai  If  tier     ...... 

Negotiations  between  Vancouver  and  Cluadra,  as  related  by  Howel 
The  commissioners  agree  to  wail  for  orders  from  their  Giivernments 
Quadra  communicates  accounts  and  charts  of  Gray's  dis<'()veries  to  Vancouver 
Survey  of  Bulfinch's  Harbor  by  Vancouver's  lieutenant,  Whidbey 
Survey  of  the  Columbia  by  Lieutenant  Broughton,  who  attempts  to  appropriate 
to  himself  the  merit  of  first  entering  the  great  river       .... 

Vancouver  winters  at  the  Sandwich  Islands;  his  proceedings  there 
Expedition  of  Rodman  and  a  party  of  Americans  fiom  the  mouth  of  the  Missouri 
across  the  continent,  to  the  Pacific         ...... 

Vancouver  surveys  the  northwest  Archipelago     .  .  .  .  - 

He  winters  at  the  Sandwich  Islands,  the  sovereignty  of  one  of  which  is  ceded  to 
Great  Britain  by  Tamahamaha  -  ...... 

Death  of  Cluadra     .-....--- 

Alava  appointed  Spanish  commissioner  in  place  of  Cluadra         ... 

Expeditions  of  Mackenzie  across  the  continent  to  the  Pacific,  which  he  reaches 

near  the  53d  degree  of  latitude    .....  -  . 

Vancouver  completes  his  surveys  of  the  northwest  coast,  and  sails  for  England 
The  Spaniards  abandon  Noolka     -.....- 

Broughton  arrives  as  British  commissioner  at  Noolka,  which  he  finds  occupied 

only  by  the  savages  -  -  .  -  .  .      •     . 

Spain  declares  war  against  Great  Britain  ...... 

Death  of  Vancouver,  and  publication  of  his  Journals        .... 

Observations  on  his  Journals  -  -  -  .  -  -  - 

Whole  of  the  direct  trade  in  furs  from  the  northwest  coast  to  China  carried  on 

by  Americans,  from  1796  to  1814  ...... 

Formation  of  the  Russian-American  Company,  which  receives  a  charter  (1799) 
from  the  Empeiot  Paul   ...-.--• 
Foundation  of  Sitca,  or  New  Archangel,  by  the  Russians,  under  Baranof 
Louisiana  ceded  by  Spain  to  France,  which  (1803)  cedes  it  to  the  United  States 
Observations  on  the  extent  of  Louisiana    ...... 

Voyage  of  Krusenstern  and  Lisiansky  from  St.  Petersburgh  to  the  north  Pacific    146      ; 
Destruction  of  the  vhip  Boston,  of  Boston,  by  the  savages  at  Nootka  Sound        -    142 
Lewis  and  Clarke  begin  their  expedition  across  the  contineni       ...    152 
They  reach  the  mourh  of  the  Columbia     .-.--.    152      I 
And  return  to  the  United  States     -....--    153      J 

Frazer,  and  others  in  the  employ  of  the  Northwest  Trading  Company,  cross  the  '; 

Rocky  Mountains,  and  form  the  first  British  establishment  in  that  part  of  :< 

America  on  Frazer's  Lake         .......    155     J 

Krusenstern  and  Lisiansky  complete  their  voyage  of  circumnavigation  - 
Convention  signed  at  London  between  the  plenipotentiaries  of  Great  Britain  and 
the  United  States,  for  the  settlement  of  boundaries  in  America,  but  not  con- 
cluded      .......... 

Missouri  Fur  Company  at  Saint  Louis      ...... 

Henry  establishes  a  trading  post  on  the  Lewis  River       .  -  - 

Russian  Government  complains  to  that  of  the  United  States  of  the  misconduct  of 
American  fur-traders  in  supplying  the  natives  on  the  northwest  coasts  with 
arms  .......... 

Negotiations  on  that  subject  ineffectual      .-...- 
Fortnation  of  the  Pacific  Fur  Company  at  New  York,  by  J.  J.  Astor 
Parties  sent  by  sea  from  New  York,  and  by  land  from  Saint  Louis,  to  establish 
factories  on  the  Columbia  ....... 

Foundation  of  j1s<o»?«,  near  the  month  of  that  river        .... 

Adventurous  journey  of  the  land  paly  under  Hunt  .... 

Destruction  of  the  sliip  Tonquin,  which  had  carried  out  the  other  pflrly,  an  1  her 
crew,  by  the  savages  near  Noolka  ...... 

War  declared  by  the  United  Slates  against  Great  Britain  ... 

The  Russians  establish  themselves  in  California  near  Port  San  Francisco 
Property  of  ihe  Americans  on  the  Columbia  sold  to  the  Northwest  Company 
Astoria  taken  by  a  Brit'sh  ship  of  war,  and  its  name  changed  to  Fort  George    - 
Peace  of  Ghent  between  Great  Britain  and  the  United  Slates      .  .  « 


1819. 

1820. 
1821. 


Ag 

Th 

I: 

Me 
Dif^ 

Ast 
Nei 

Nci 
Nei 


tj 
Ch; 
Fk 
Mt 
Coi 
Ac 

r 

t 
Uk 

t 
Di.> 
Pr< 

i 
Pre 
Pr< 
Ne: 
Nr 

■f 

tl 
Co 
Re 
Rei 

r 
Co: 

0 

Ob 

Fit 

c 

Del 

1834-'38.  Ne 

Hu 

d 
Pai 
Ca 
Ca 

I 
Est 
Re 

t: 


1832. 
1823. 


18-24. 


1825. 
1826. 
1827. 


I  1829, 


A. — Respect 
B.— Respect 

Pacifi 
C. — Acroiin 

Purcl 
D.— Corres[ 

Messi 

the  0{ 
E. — Showin 

araiir 

j  treaty 

F. — Coniair 

north 


XI 


Page. 

•  129 

Spanish  ves- 

-  131 

■  132 

■  132 


ana  - 


detailing  ihe 


132,  212 
134 
134 
134 


0  Vancouver    135 
-    135 

0  appropriate 

136 
137 


the  Missouri 
cb  is  ceded  to 


140 
137 

138 
138 
138 
ih  he  reaches 

-  140 
for  England    141 

-  141 
nds  occupied 

>     -  -    141 

-  143 
139 
139 


na  carried  on 
harter  (1790) 


143 

145 

sranof          -  145 

United  States  149 

-  150 
north  Pacific  146 
1  Sound        -  142 

-  152 

-  152 

-  153 
any,  cross  the 

.  that  part  of 


Llion  - 

il  Britain  and 
but  not  con- 


misconduct  of 
St  coasts  wiiii 


or- 
is, to  establish 


pflrly,  an  1  her 


ancisco 


155 
147 


154 
156 
156 


147 
148 

156 

157 
157 
158 

158 
158 

148 


Company     -    160 


Year. 
1814. 

1817. 

1818. 


1819. 
1820. 
1821. 


i 


18-22. 
1823. 


18-24. 

1825. 
1826. 
1827. 

1829. 

1834-'38, 


Page. 
Agreeably  to  which,  (1815,)  the  Americans  demand  the  restitution  of  Astoria   -    164 
The  Russians  attempt  unsuccessfully  to  taKe  possession  of  one  of  the  Sandwich 
Islands       ..........    148 

Messrs.  Prevost  and  Biddle  sent  in  the  ship  Ontario  to  take  possession  of  Astoria,  164 
Discussions  on  the  subject  between  the  British  and  American  Governmenis  .  164 
Astoria  restored  formally  by  the  British  authorities  to  those  of  the  United  Slates  165 
Negotiation  between  Great  Britain  and  the  Unhed  Stales  -  -  -    168 

Negotiation  ended  by  the  convention  of  October,  1818      -  •  -         169,219 

Negotiation  between  the  United  Slates  and  Spain,  terminated  by  the  Florida 
'I^ealy,  (February,  1819,)  in  which  the  42d  parallel  of  latitude  is  made  the 
boundary  between  the  territories  of  the  two  Powers  west  of  the  Rocky  Moun. 

tains 170,219 

Charterof  the  Russian-American  Company  renewed  for  twenty  years  -  -    176 

Florida  Treaty  ratified        ........    173 

Mexico  becomes  independent  of  Spain       -.-..-    173 
Coalition  of  the  Northwest  and  the  Hudson's  Bay  Companies     ...    175 
Act  of  British  Parliament  for  regulating  the  fur  trade,  and  establishing  a  crimi- 
nal and  civil  jurisdiction  in  the  Indian  territories,  which  are  granted  to  the 
Hudson's  Bay  Company  ........    175 

Ukase  of  the  Russian  Emperor,  claiming  all  the  west  coasts  of  America  north  of 
the  51st  parallel    ----.-.-.    176 

Discussions  between  the  Russian  and  the  American  Governments  on  this  stabject    176 
Propositions  made  on  the  part  of  the  United  States  for  a  joint  convention  respect- 
ing Northwest  America,  between  the  United  States,  Great  Britain,  and  Russia    177 
Propositions  for  a  joint  convention  declined  by  the  other  Powers  -  -    178 

Proceedings  in  the  Congress  of  the  United  Slates  -  -  173,  178,  179 

Neg;otiation  between  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain  broken  off      -  -    179 

Negotiation  between  the  United  States  and  Russia  terminated  by  a  convention, 
fixing  the  parallel  of  54  degrees  40  minutes  as  the  limit  between  the  parts  of 
the  coast  on  which  either  Power  could  form  establishments  .         180, 320 

Convention  of  a  similar  nature  between  Great  Britain  and  Russia  -         181, 221 

Revival  of  the  fur  trade  between  Saint  Louis  and  the  Columbia  countries         -    195 
Renewal  of  negotiation  at  London  between  the  British  and  American  Govern- 
ments        ..........    183 

Convention  prolonging  for  an  indefinite  period  the  third  article  of  the  convention 

of  October,  1818 185,223 

Observations  on  the  pretensions  advanced  by  the  parties  in  this  negotiation        .    185 
First  trading  expedition  from  Missouri  to  the  Rocky  Mountains  in  which  wag- 
ons were  employed  -...-...    195 
Debates  in  Congress  with  respect  to  Ihe  occupation  of  Oregon     -  -  -    188 
Negotiations  between  the  Governmenis  of  the  United  States  and  Russia,  respect- 
ing the  renewal  of  the  4ih  article  of  the  convention  of  1825      -           -           -    189 
Hudson's  Bay  Company's  expedition  to  take  possession  of  the  River  Stikine  ren- 
dered Ciuiiless  by  the  Russians    -.--.-.    190 
Particular  account  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company's  system  and  establishments  -    192 
Captain  Bonneville's  trading  expedition  from  Missouri  to  Ihe  Columbia            .    196 
Captain  Wyeth's  attempts  to  form  American  trading  establishments  beyond  the 
Rocky  Mountains            ........    196 

Esiablishmentof  American  colonies  on  the  river  Wallamet         ...    igg 
Reflections  on  Ihe  fur  trade  in  America,  and  on  the  future  destinies  of  the  coun 
tries  beyond  the  Rocky  Mountains  ...... 


199 


■J 


APPENDIX. 


ort  George    - 


161 

163 


A.— Respecting  the  part  of  the  northwest  coast  seen  by  Drake  in  1579       ... 

B.— Respecting  the  pretended  northern  voyage  vf  Maldonado  from  the  Atlantic  to  the 
Pacific  in  1588 

C— Account  of  the  voyage  of  .Tuan  de  Fuca  in  the  north  Pacific  in  1592,  extracted  from 
Purcha-'s  Pilgrims      .-...-.-. 

D.— Correspondence  at  Nootka  in  1792,  between  the  Spanish  commissioner  Cluadra,  and 
Messrs.  Gray  and  Ingraliam,  the  commanders  of  two  American  vessels,  respecting 
the  occurrences  at  that  place  in  1789  ...... 

E. — Showing  that  the  49th  parallel  of  latitude  was  probably  not  adopted  as  the  line  of  sep- 
aration between  the  British  and  French  territories  in  America,  agreeably  to  the 
treaty  of  Utrecht  in  1714        ...-..-. 

F. — Containing  extracts  and  copies  of  treaties  between  various  nations  respecting  the 

northwest  coast  of  America    ........    219 


201 
205 
207 


212 


216 


.Vi: 


WE 


ERRATA. 

Since  the  following  pages  were  printed,  the  author  has  discovered  two  errors,  which,  though 
not  bearing  upon  any  important  question,  he  regrets,  and  is  anxious  to  correct ;  particularly  as 
the  misstatements  are  injurious  to  the  memory  of  Capiain  Cook,  one  of  the  noblest  men  whom 
any  age  or  country  has  produced. 

In  order  to  correct  these  errors, 

1.  Substitute  lor  the  two  last  sentences  of  the  second  paragraph,  in  page  46,  the  following: 
IThe  Cnpe  Blan'?o,  inenlioned  as  the  northern  limit  of  Aa;uilar's  progress  along  the  coast,  is 
probably  the  satne  on  which  Vancouver,  in  I7,)i,  bestowed  the  name  of  Cape  Orford. 

2.  Expunge  the  last  sentence  but  one  of  the  third  paragraph  in  page  7l»,  containing  the 
words— "In  this  part  of  his  voyage  he  recognised  the  Cape  Blanco  of  Aguilar,  near  the  •iSd 
parallel,  but  he  thought  proper  to  bestow  on  it  the  name  of  Cape  Gregory." 


I.  The 

ted  State; 
American 
from  the 
gether  wi 
this  territ 
is  commc 
that  such 
To  the  n 
will  here 
traders  o; 
southwar 
which  str 


fornH 
iards  to 
was  emp 
lantic. 
form  the 
separate 
chide  the 
In  ord 
bitrariiy, 
northwej 
crosses  1 
ern  and 
assumpti 
erations. 


♦  In  the 
&hore,  and 
the  river; 
not  sufficie 
ondersiooci 
.  tudes,  and 


GEOGRAPHY 


i  > 


OF  THE 


1 


WESTERN   SECTION   OF  NORTH  AMERICA. 


INTRODUCTION. 


■s,  which,  thouffh 
particularly  as 
iblcst  men  whom 


f),  the  following: 

(ins;  the  coast,  is 

)rrord. 

I,  containing  the 

eir,  near  the  43d 


I.  The  northwest  coast  is  the  expression  usually  employed  in  the  Uni- 
ted States,  at  the  present  time,  to  distinguish  the  vast  portion  of  the 
American  continent,  which  extends  north  of  the  40th  parallel  of  latitude 
from  the  Pacific  to  the  great  dividing  ridge  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  to- 
gether with  the  contiguous  islands  in  that  ocean.  The  southern  part  of 
this  territory,  which  is  drained  almost  entirely  by  the  River  Columbia, 
is  commonly  called  Oregon,  from  the  supposition  (no  doubt  eiToneous) 
that  such  was  the  name  applied  to  its  principal  stream  by  the  aborigines. 
To  the  more  northern  parts  of  the  continent  many  appellations,  which 
will  hereafter  be  mentioned,  have  been  assigned  by  navigators  and  fur- 
traders  of  various  nations.  The  territory  bordering  upon  the  Pacific 
southward,  from  the  40th  parallel  to  the  extremity  of  the  peninsula 
which  stretches  in  that  direction  as  far  as  the  Tropic  of  Cancer,  is  called 
California;  a  name  of  uncertain  derivation,  formerly  applied  by  the  Span- 
iards to  the  whole  western  section  of  North  America,  as  that  of  Flmnda 
was  employed  by  them  to  designate  the  regions  bordering  upon  the  At- 
lantic. The  northwest  coast  and  the  west  coast  of  California,  together, 
form  the  west  coa^t  of  North  America;  as  it  has  been  found  impossible  to 
separate  the  history  of  these  two  portions,  so  it  will  be  necessary  to  in- 
clude them  both  in  this  geographical  view.* 

In  order  to  show  that  i\\e  fortieth  parallel  of  latitude  is  not  assumed  ar- 
bitrarily, and  without  adequate  grounds,  as  the  southern  limit  of  the 
northwest  coast,  it  would  be  sufficient  to  cite  the  fact,  that  this  line 
crosses  the  American  continent  exactly  midway  between  its  most  north- 
ern and  its  most  southern  points ;  but  there  are  physical  reasons  for  the 
assumption,  no  less  strong  than  those  based  on  such  geometrical  consid- 
erations.   Almost  immediately  under  the  said  parallel  the  coast  makes  an 


I 


*  In  the  following  pages,  the  term  coast  will  be  used,  sometimes  as  signifying  only  the  sea- 
shore, and  sometimes  as  embracing  the  whole  territory,  extending  therefrom  to  the  sources  of 
the  river;  care  has  been,  however,  taken  to  prevent  misapprehension,  where  the  context  does 
not  surticiently  indicate  the  true  sense.  In  order  to  avoid  repetitions,  the  northwest  coast  will  be 
understood  to  be  the  northwest  coast  of  North  America ;  all  latitudes  will  be  taken  as  north  lali- 
.  tudes,  and  all  longitudes  as  west  from  Greenwich,  unless  otherwise  expressed. 


iii^u 


angle  at  a  point  called  Cape  Mendocino^  from  which  one  line  runs  due 
north  for  a  great  distance,  while  the  other  takes  a  southeast  direction. 
Moreover,  this  cape  is  the  western  extremity  of  a  ridge  of  lofty  moun- 
tains, extending  continuously  from  tlie  Pacific  to  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
nearly  in  the  course  of  the  40th  parallel,  and  completely  dividing  the 
region  of  which  the  waters  flow  southward  from  that  drained  by  streams 
entering  the  Pacific  north  of  the  cape.  This  transverse  ridge,  generally 
called  the  Snowy  Mountains,  appears,  indeed,  to  be  the  boundary  indi- 
cated by  nature  between  California,  on  the  south,  and  Oregon,  or  the 
country  of  the  Columbia,  on  the  north  ;  not  only  does  it  serve  as  a  bar- 
rier of  separation  almost  impassable,  but  the  differences  in  climate  and 
productions  between  the  territories  on  either  side  of  it  are  much  greater 
than  could  have  been  supposed,  considering  merely  their  respective  dis- 
tances from  the  equator.  California  is  essentially  a  sovthern  country, 
while  Oregon  exhibits  the  peculiarities  of  the  noitk. 

The  coasts  of  this  section  of  America  iiave  been  carefully  surveyed 
by  distinguished  scientific  navigators,  and  they  may  be  found  accurately 
delineated  on  charts;  with  regard  to  the  interior,  however,  little  exact 
geographical  information  has  been  yet  obtained.  From  all  that  can  be 
learned  respecting  the  continent  north  of  the  58th  parallel,  it  is  a  waste 
of  rocky  snow-clad  mountains,  incapable  of  sustaining  a  population,  and, 
indeed,  almost  impenetrable.  Of  California,  or  the  country  sout^  of  the 
40th  parallel,  no  accounts  are  to  be  procured,  except  as  to  the  portion  im- 
mediately contiguous  to  the  sea.  It  is  only  of  the  territory  in.  luded  be- 
tween these  two  lines  of  latitude,  which  is  drained  principally  by  the 
great  River  Columbia,  that  we  can  speak  with  any  confidence ;  even  of 
this  territory,  all  descriptions  must  be  conveyed  in  general  and  qualified 
terms,  and  much  remains  to  be  done  in  it  by  the  astronomer  belbre  our 
maps  can  present  any  other  than  very  imperfect  representations  of  its 
surface. 

In  the  following  geographical  sketch,  an  attempt  will  be  made  to  com- 
bine the  results  of  information  and  inquiry,  relative  to  the  western  sec- 
tion of  North  America,  in  such  a  manner  as  to  produce  distinct  impres- 
sions of  its  most  prominent  and  characteristic  features,  adding  only  those 
details  which  may  be  requisite  or  useful  in  order  to  illustrate  the  state- 
ments and  views  contained  in  the  political  and  historical  memoir.  In 
so  doing,  it  has  been  found  convenient  to  adopt  the  territorial  divisions 
indicated  by  nature,  rather  than  those  which  have  been  agreed  on  be- 
tween the  Governments  of  various  distant  nations.  The  boundaries  set- 
tled by  these  conventions  will,  however,  be  first  described,  and  general 
ideas  of  the  political  questions  at  issue,  with  regard  to  this  part  of  the 
world,  will  thus  be  easily  communicated. 


ingly,  clai 
sians  effec 
Bay  of  Sa 
and  garris 
tained  in  ( 
By  the 
was  agree 
coasts  of  I 
64  degree 
north  of  t 
By  the 
in  like  ma 
coasts  or 
sians  shot 
over,  agre 
summits 
tion  with 
through  ]V 
tic  Sea,  si 
sions  on  t 
Thus  i\ 
running  c 
grees  40  n 
Russia;  a 
Pacific  to 
and  Mexi( 
tively  assi 
the  portioi 
irom  the 
so  far  as  t( 
Columbia 
pretension 
an  unlimi 
America,  < 
tion,  trade 
i  ernment  c 
'  ing  due  n 
I      III.  Til 
I  Britain,  tl 
I  stated,  we 

I 

(    VIEW  OP  ' 


'• 


POLITICAL  DIVISION  OF  THE  WESTERN   SECTION  OF  NORTH  AMERICA. 

II.  By  the  Florida  treaty,  concluded  in  1819  between  the  United  States 
and  Spain,  a  line  drawn  along  the  42d  parallel  of  latitude,  from  the 
Rocky  Mountains  to  the  Pacific,  was  fixed  as  the  northern  limit  of  the 
Spanish  territory  and  the  southern  limit  of  that  of  the  United  States  in 
western  America.  By  a  subsequent  treaty  between  the  latter  Power  and 
Mexico,  the  same  line  was  admitted  to  separate  the  possessions  of  the 
two  republics,  Mexico  taking  the  place  of  Spain.    The  Mexicans,  accord- 


Thenc 
Wales,  in 
most  spot 


•  The  Ru 
fany,  of  whi 
the  Hudson''. 
Mountains, 


line  runs  due 
east  direction. 
>f  lofty  moun- 
iy  Mountains, 

dividing  the 
ed  by  streams 
dgc,  generally 
oundary  indi- 
•regon,  or  the 
ervc  as  a  bar- 
1  climate  and 

much  greater 
respective  dis- 
/ier?i  country, 

nUy  surveyed 
nd  accurately 
!r,  little  exact 
1  that  can  be 
,  it  is  a  waste 
pulation,  and, 
r  sout'j  of  the 
le  portion  im- 
r  in  luded  be- 
;ipally  by  the 
ince;  even  of 
and  qualified 
ner  before  our 
itations  of  its 

made  to  com- 
)  western  sec- 
stinct  impres- 
ng  only  those 
ate  the  state- 
memoir.  In 
irial  divisions 
igreed  on  be- 
lundaries  set- 
,  and  general 
is  part  of  the 


[  AMERICA. 

United  States 
ide,  from  the 
n  limit  of  the 
ited  States  in 
er  Power  and 
ssions  of  the 
leans,  accord- 


ingly, claim  the  country  as  far  north  as  the  42d  parallel ;  but  i\w  Rus- 
sians effectually  bar  the  exercise  of  any  Mexican  authority  beyond  I  ie 
Bay  of  San  Francisco,  near  the  38th  degree,  by  means  of  their  colotuc^a 
ancl  garrisons  in  that  quarter,  established  in  1812,  and  ever  since  main- 
tained in  defiance  alike  of  Spain  and  of  her  republican  successors. 

By  the  convention  of  1824,  between  the  United  States  and  Russia,  it 
was  agreed  that  the  Russians  should  make  no  settlements  on  the  west 
coasts  of  North  America,  or  the  adjacent  islands,  south  of  the  latitude  of 
64  degrees  40  minutes,  and  the  United  States  should  establish  none 
north  of  that  parallel. 

By  the  convention  of  1825,  between  Russia  and  Great  Britain,  it  was 
in  like  manner  stipulated  that  the  British  should  occupy  no  place  on  the 
coasts  or  islands  north  of  54  degrees  and  40  minutes,  and  that  the  Rus- 
sians should  make  no  settlement  south  of  the  same  latitude ;  it  was,  more- 
over, agreed  that  a  line  drawn  from  that  parallel  northward,  along  the 
summits  of  the  mountains,  within  20  miles  of  the  sea,  to  its  intersec- 
tion with  the  141st  meridian  of  longitude  west  from  Greenwich,  (passing 
through  Mount  Saint  Elias,)  and  thence,  along  that  meridian,  to  the  Arc- 
tic Sea,  should  be  the  "  limit  between  the  Russian  and  British  posses- 
sions on  the  continent  of  America  to  the  northwest." 

Thus  two  lines  of  boundary  appear  on  the  rnap  of  Northwest  America, 
running  completely  across  it :  one  northward,  from  the  latitude  of  54  de- 
grees 40  minutes,  to  the  Arctic  sea,  as  settled  between  Great  Britain  and 
Russia;  and  the  other  following  the  course  of  the  42d  parallel,  from  the 
Pacific  to  the  Rocky  Mountains,  as  agreed  on  between  the  United  States 
and  Mexico.  Of  the  intermediate  region,  no  part  has  been  as  yet  defini- 
tively assigned  by  convention  to  any  one  nation ;  the  Americans  claim 
the  portion  north  from  the  42d  parallel,  and  the  British  claim  that  south 
firom  the  other  line  of  boundary — each  party  to  an  extent  undefined,  but 
so  far  as  to  secure  for  itself  the  large  and  valuable  country  drained  by  the 
Columbia  River.  These  nations  have  provisionally  compromised  their 
pretensions  by  an  arrangement,  made  in  1818,  and  continued  in  1827  for 
an  unlimited  period,  to  the  effect,  that  any  territory  in  that  section  of 
America,  claimed  by  either,  should  be  equally  free  and  open  for  naviga- 
tion, trade,  and  settlement,  to  the  citizens  or  subjects  of  both  ;  the  Gov- 
ernment of  each  being  at  liberty  to  abrogate  the  arrangement,  after  giv- 
ing due  notice  of  twelve  months  to  that  of  the  other.* 
i  III.  The  political  questions  at  issue  between  the  Governments  of  Great 
j  Britain,  the  United  States,  Russia,  and  Mexico  having  been  summarily 
I  stated,  we  will  now  present  a — 

VIEW  OP  THE  WESTERN  SECTION  OF  NORTH  AMERICA,  ACCORDING  TO  ITS 

NATURAL  DIVISIONS. 

The  northern  extremity  of  the  west  coast  of  America  is  Cape  Prince  of 
Wales,  in  latitude  of  65  degrees  52  minutes,  which  is  also  the  western- 
most spot  in  the  whole  continent ;  it  is  situated  on  the  eastern  side  of 


•  The  Russian  settlements  in  America  are  under  the  control  of  the  Russian-ATnerican  Com- 
pany, of  which  a  particular  account  will  be  found  at  page  143  of  the  memoir.  For  notices  of 
the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  to  which  belong  all  the  British  establishments  west  of  the  Rocky 
Motmtains,  see  pages  75  and  192 ;  and,  for  copies  of  the  treaties,  see  Appendix  [F.] 


P 


,Jl' 


!? 


k 


.  .It 

!       'I 


I 


Beprinsr^H  Strait,  n  channnl  fiftyono  milfts  in  width,  connncrting  tlio  Pa- 
cific witli  tlict  Arctic  (or  Av/,  or  North  IVozcn)  Ocean,  on  tl»e  western 
sidt!  of  wliicfi  striiit,  opfH)sito  ('npo  I'rinro  of  NViiNis,  is  AVw/  Ca/)c,t\Hi 
eastern  extremity  of  Asia.  IJeyond  IJeerini^'s  fStrait  the  shorus  of  the 
two  conlirKMits  recede  from  eaeh  other.  'I'he  nort/i  coast  of  Amciica  has 
been  traced  fn)rn  Cap<>  I'rinec  of  Wales  northeastward,  to  (Jape  liar- 
row,  in  latitude  of  71  degrees  23  minutes,  which  is  prohably  the  north 
ernmost  {M)int  of  America,  and  thence  eastward  for  more  than  a  thou- 
sand miles,  tfiouj,'h  not  continuously  to  the  Atlantic  ;  no  vessc;!  has,  how- 
ever, yet  proceeded  beyond  Heering  s  Strait  as  tiir  as  Cape  Harrow. 

Tlio  southernmost  point  of  the  west  coast  of  North  America  is  Cape 
San  Lvcas,  in  latitiide  of  22  decrees  52  minutes,  the  extremity  of  the 
great  Peninsula  of  Valifomia,  which  stretches  from  the  American  con- 
tinent on  the  Pacific  side,  nearly  in  the  same  direction,  and  between 
nearly  the  same  parallels  of  latitude  as  that  of  Florida  on  the  Atlantic. 
The  Californian  |)cninsula  joins  the  main  land  under  the  33d  parallel; 
south  of  which,  it  is  separated  from  Mexico,  on  the  east,  by  the  long 
arm  of  the  ocean  called  by  the  Spaniards  the  Vermillion  Sea  and  the  Sea 
of  Cortes,  but  more  generally  known  as  the  Gulf  of  California. 

The  coast  extending  between  these  two  capes  is  not  less  than  four 
thousand  miles  in  length,  and  is  bordered  by  a  continuous  line  of  moiui- 
tains,  which  in  most  places  overhang  the  sea,  and  are  nowhere  distant 
from  it  more  than  eighty  miles.  From  Capo  San  Lucas  the  general  di- 
rection of  the  shores  is  northwest  as  far  as  Cape  Mendocino,  near  the 
40th  degree  of  latitude ;  thence  it  runs  almost  due  north  to  Cape  Flat- 
tery, at  the  entrance  of  the  Strait  of  Fuca,  near  the  4Sth  degree,  where 
it  makes  an  angle  by  turning  to  the  east.  South  of  Cape  Flattery  the 
coast  is  comparatively  reguliir  and  free  from  great  sinuosities,  and  there 
are  only  a  few  islands,  all  of  which  are  small,  in  its  vicinity ;  northward 
of  that  point,  to  Cape  Spenser  near  the  58th  degree,  it  is,  on  the  contrary, 
indented  by  numerous  bays  and  inlets  penetrating  the  land,  and  it  is 
completely  masked  by  islands  separated  from  each  other  and  from  the 
continent  by  narrow  and  intricate  cliannels.  These  islands  compose  the 
Nort/ncest  Archipelago;  they  lie  together  in  a  recess  of  the  continental 
coast  between  Cape  Flattery  and  Cape  Spenser,  in  length  about  seven 
hundred  miles,  and  in  breadth  about  one  hundred  and  twenty ;  and  they 
are,  indeed,  simply  a  continuation,  through  the  sea,  of  the  mountain- 
chain  which  forms  the  westernmost  rampart  of  America.  Beyond  Cape 
Spenser  the  American  coast  makes  a  bend,  running  northwest  to  the 
foot  of  Mount  Saint  Elias,  the  loftiest  peak  on  the  continent,  and  the 
most  striking  landmark  on  its  western  shore  ;  thence  westward  nearly  in 
the  course  of  the  60th  parallel,  and  then  southwest  to  the  extremity  of 
the  Peninsula,  of  Aliaska,  in  54  degrees  40  minutes,  around  which  it 
again  turns  to  the  north,  and  continues  in  that  course  to  Cape  Prince 
of  Wales.  Aliaska  is,  like  California,  formed  by  the  projection  of  a  lofty 
mountain-ridge  into  the  Pacific  ;  from  its  extremity,  and  as  if  in  contin- 
uadon  of  it,  a  chain  of  islands,  called  the  Aleutian  Archipelago,  extends 
westward,  across  the  sea,  to  the  vicinity  of  the  opposite  Asiatic  Penin- 
sula of  Kamschatka. 

IV.  Of  the  northwesternmost  division  of  the  American  coast,  extending 
from  Cape  Prince  of  Wales,  southward,  to  the  extremity  of  Aliaska,  little 
need  be  said.    The  part  of  the  Pacific  north  of  the  Aleutian  Islands, 


which  hai 
Kainschat 
navigator 
arms  run 
Norton  Sfi 
Prince  of 
Gulf,  on 
receives  tl 
the  outlet 
factory,  or 
this  whole 
The  All 
of  three  gr 
the  largest 
Andreanoi 
with  man 
western  gi 
are  Attou, 
ter  Beerin 
nearly  all, 
little  value 
.advantage 
for  procuri 
ago,  partic 
and  bold  ri 
people  are 
fishing  an 
pose  a  larj 
m  America 
the  largest 
and  Stiint 
V.  Kam 
tending  frc 
10  minute 
V  ated.     We: 
jthe  Sea  of 
I  east  by  tm 
'  wards  Japs 
i  the  Harbor 
\  latitude  of 
1  which  are 
i     VI.  The 
^bend  betw 
I  Here  are  t 
continent  t 
hoped  thai 
lantic.    Tl 
River,  but 
is  known 
only  separi 
navigators 
guished  b] 


iccting  tlio  Pa- 
in the  western 
Hnst  (Mpc^  the 

shop's  of  the 
if'  Amctiva  has 

to  Cape,  liar- 
ibiy  the  north 

0  than  u  thou- 
RsscI  has,  how- 
Harrow, 
nerictt  is  Cape 
xtreniity  of  the 
American  con- 
,  and  between 
II  the  Atlantic, 
e  33d  parallel ; 
It,  by  the  long 
ert  and  the  Sea 
irnia. 

less  than  four 
i  line  of  inoun- 
owhere  distant 
the  general  di- 
nciiiOy  near  the 
to  Cape  Flat- 
degree,  where 
pe  Flattery  the 

1  ties,  and  there 
ty ;  northward 
n  the  contrary, 
and,  and  it  is 

and  from  the 
Is  compose  the 
he  continental 
h  about  seven 
mty ;  and  they 
the  mountain- 

Beyond  Cape 
rthwest  to  the 

nent,  and  the 
ward  nearly  in 
e  extremity  of 
tund  which  it 
3  Cape  Prince 

tion  of  a  lofly 
IS  if  m  contin- 
elaffo,  extends 
Asiatic  Penin- 

>ast,  extending 
■  Aliaska,  little 
utian  Islands, 


which  bothes  those  shores,  is  commonly  distinguished  as  the  Stn  of 
Kainsrhntlcriy  and  souietimi's  as  liirrinir^s  Sea,  in  honor  of  the  Russian 
navigator  of  that  name  who  first  explored  it.  From  this  sea  several 
arms  run  up  into  the  main  land  of  America,  of  which  the  largest  aro 
Norton  Stmndy  on  the  south  side  of  the  |K;ninsula  terminated  by  Cape 
Prince  of  Wales,  and  Rrislol  liaij,  culled  by  the  Russians  Knmisehezarnia 
Gul/y  on  the  northwest  side  of  Aliaska.  The  upper  part  of  Hristol  Hay 
receives  the  waters  of  u  largo  lake  called  /Mke  SlieUilcuf ;  a  little  west  of 
the  outlet  of  which,  on  the  shore  of  the  bay,  stands  tho  small  Russian 
factory,  or  fur-trading  cM\ih\{s\\inQ\\i,o(  Alcxandrowslc^  the  only  spot  on 
this  whole  coast  occupio  i  by  civilized  persons. 

Tho  Aleutian  Archi/jeluifo  is  considered  by  tho  Russians  as  consisting 
o(  three  groups  of  islands.     Nearest  Aliaska  are  the  hhx  lilawls,  of  which 
the  largest  are  Ihdmalc,  Unatashkn,  and  Umiuxlc ;  next  to  these  are  the 
Andreanowsky  Islandt,  among  which  are  Atsehn^  TonaffOy  and  Kanaffnf 
with  many  smaller  islands,  sometimes  called  tho  Rat  Islands  ;  tho  most 
western  group  is  that  first  called  the  J  eutiau  or  Aleoutski/  Islands,  which 
are  Attou,  Mcdnoi,  (or  Copper  Island,)  and  Revring^s  Island.    On  the  lat- 
ter Heering  was  wrecked  and  lost  his  life  in  1741.    These  islands  are 
nearly  all,  like  Aliaska,  rocky,  mountainous,  and  volcanic  ;  they  are  of 
little  value  in  an  agricultural  point  of  view,  but  the  Russians  derive  great 
.advantage  from  the  skins  and  furs  of  animals  in  and  about  their  shores, 
for  procuring  wliich  they  have  several  establishments  in  the  Archipel- 
ago, particularly  on  Unulashka.     The  original  inhabitants  are  a  hardy 
and  bold  race,  whom  the  Russians  had  great  didiculty  in  subduing ;  these 
people  are,  however,  at  the  present  day,  employed  by  their  masters  in 
fishing  and  hunting  for  furs  in  every  part  ot  tho  Pacific,  and  they  com- 
pose a  large  proportion  of  the  population  of  all  the  Russian  settlements 
m  America.    There  aro  other  islands  in  the  Sea  of  Kamsrhatka,  of  which 
the  largest  are  Nunioak,  near  tho  American  shore,  under  the  60th  parallel, 
and  Stiint  Laiorence  or  Clerke^s Island,  at  the  entrance  of  Beering's  Strait. 
V.  Kamschatka  is  a  large  peninsula  formed  of  volcanic  mountains,  ex- 
tending from  the  Asiatic  continent  southward  to  the  latitude  of  62  degrees 
10  minutes,  under  which  its  southernmost  point.  Cape  Lopatka,  is  situ- 
ated.    West  of  the  peninsula,  between  it  and  the  main  land  of  Asia,  is 
,  the  Sea  of  Ochotsk,  which  is  separated  from  the  Pacific  on  the  south- 
-east by  the  Kurile  Islands,  extending  southwest  from  Kamschatka  to- 
1  wards  Japan.     The  principal  place  in  Kamschatka  is  PetroPaulmcsk,  or 
I  the  Harbor  of  Saint  Peter  and  Saint  Paul,  on  the  Baj/  of  Avatscha,  in 
I  latitude  of  53  degrees  58  minutes ;  it  is  a  small  town,  the  inhabitants  of 
I  which  are  all  engaged  directly  or  indirectly  in  the  fur  trade. 
i     VI.  The  next  natural  division  of  the  coast  is  that  included  in  the  great 
i  bend  between  the  southwest  extremity  of  Aliaska  and  Cape  Spenser. 
I  Here  are  to  be  remarked  two  deep  gulfs,  extending  northward  into  the 
continent  to  the  62d  degree,  through  each  of  which  it  was  for  some  time 
hoped  that  a  passage  would  be  discovered  communicating  with  the  At- 
lantic.   The  westernmost  of  these  gulfs  was  originally  called  Cook's 
River,  but  is  now  generally  named  on  English  maps  Coolers  Inlet,  and 
is  known  by  the  Russians  as  the  Gulf  of  Kenay ;  the  other,  which  is 
only  separated  from  the  former  by  a  peninsula,  received  from  the  British 
navigators  the  appellation  of  Prince  William's  Sound,  and  is  distin- 
guished by  the  Russians  as  the  Bay  of  Tschugatsch;  it  is  unnecessary 


'» 


I     ; 

'i  ''  •' 


6 


1 1 


here  to  say  more  of  them  than  that  they  contain  many  islands,  and  that 
the  Russians  have  several  factories  on  the  shores  of  each.  Further  east- 
ward are  Comptroller'' s  Bay  and  Admiralty y  or  Beering^s,  or  Midgrave,  or 
Yakutat  Bay,  where  it  is  generally  believed  that  Beering  first  landed  iu 
America  in  1741.  In  the  reports  of  Beering's  voyage,  it  is  stated  that 
the  mouth  of  a  large  and  rapid  river  was  found  on  this  part  of  the  coast; 
none  such,  however,  has  been  discovered,  though  a  considerable  stream 
called  by  the  Russians  Reca  Mednaia,  (or  Copper  River,)  empties  into 
Comptroller's  Bay  at  some  distance  from  the  ocean. 

On  this  coast  are  several  islands,  of  which  the  most  extensive  is  Kodi- 
ak,  at  the  entrance  of  Cook's  Inlet,  separated  from  Aliaska  on  the  west 
by  the  Strait  of  Shellikof;  its  surface  is  rugged  and  mountainous,  and  it 
is  indented  by  many  deep  bays,  on  one  of  which,  called  the  Guff  of 
Chiniatskoyy on  the  east  side  of  the  island,  is  situated  Saint  Paul,  one 
of  the  largest  Russian  settlements  in  America.  South  of  Kodiak,  near 
the  southern  extremity  of  Aliaska,  are  the  Schumagin  Islands,  called 
after  a  seaman  of  Beering's  ship,  who  died  and  was  buried  on  one  of  them. 
Mount  Saint  Elias  is  on  the  northeast  side  of  the  bend,  nearly  undei 
the  60th  parallel  of  latitude ;  its  height  is  estimated  at  seventeen  thousand 
feet,  and  that  of  Mount  Fairweaiher,  a  little  farther  south,  at  fourteen 
thousand.  They  are  both  volcanic,  as  are  nearly  all  the  mountains  in 
this  part  of  America. 

The  region  bounded  on  the  west  and  south  by  the  divisions  of  the 
American  coast  above  described  is  believed  to  be  a  frozen  waste,  traversed 
in  all  directions  by  mountains,  and  utterly  incapable  of  affording  a  sup- 
port to  a  population  except  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  ocean.  It 
IS  used  by  the  Russians  only  for  the  purposes  of  the  fur  trade,  which  is 
carried  on  at  the  cost  of  a  dreadfiil  sacrifice  of  comfort  and  of  life  ;  and, 
as  the  animals  yielding  furs  are  daily  diminishing  in  number,  this  part 
of  the  world  must,  no  doubt,  ere  long  be  abandoned  by  all  civilized  ington 
persons. 

VII.  The  Northwest  Archipelago  is  contained,  as  already  stated,  in  a  re- 
cess of  the  coast  of  the  continent,  between  the  48th  and  the  58th  parallels, 
(between  which  also  extend  the  islands  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland  on 
the  western  side  of  Europe.)  This  Archipelago  was  first  minutely  exam- 
ined by  British  navigators,  who  have  bestowed  on  the  islands  names  de- 
rived almost  exclusively  from  the  lists  of  the  royal  family,  the  ministry, 
the  parliament,  the  peerage,  the  army,  and  the  navy  of  Great  Britain; 
none  of  which  names  are,  however,  or  probably  will  be  at  any  future  pe- 
riod, used  by  the  occupants  of  the  islands.  To  present  all  these  names 
would  be  a  tedious  and  useless  labor ;  and  little  more  will  be  attempted 
than  to  aJSbrd  some  idea  of  the  principal  groups. 

King  George  the  Third's  Islands  are  the  most  northwestern ;  the  two 
largest  of  these  are,  respectively,  called  by  the  Russians  who  occupy 
them  Chicha^qff'^s  and  Baranoff^s  Islands.  Near  the  western  side  of  the 
latter,  and  divided  from  it  by  a  narrow  strait,  is  a  small  island,  in  the 
middle  of  which  rises  a  beautiful  conical  peak,  named  by  the  Spaniards 
in  1775,  Mount  San  Jacinto,  and  by  the  English  under  Cook,  three  years 
silerwiuds,  Mount  Edgecumh.  On  the  southeast  side  of  this  strait, 
called  by  the  Spaniards  Port  Remedios,  by  the  British  Norfolk  Sound, 
and  by  the  Russians  the  Gtd/  of  SUca,  stands  Sitca,  or  Neiv  Archangel, 
the  capiud  of  all  the  Russian  possessions  in  America.    It  was  estab- 


lished on 
contains 
are  Aleut 
long  nin 
The  Ad} 
main  Ian 
from  the 
two  grov 
which  th 
Mount  f 
Islands  i 
Revillagi 
are  Prin 
passages. 

All  the 
40  minut 
of  Wales' 
in  their  ^ 
exclusive 
the  Unit 

Betwee 
shape,  wl 
lotte*s,  or 
Spaniard! 
the  other 
the  last  n 
Queen  C 
territory, 
navigated 
oj 
called  the 
early  Am 
nal  of  Ci 
that  sea, 
several  p( 
published 
nute  desG 
tion  migl 
soil  and  < 
larly  in  tl 
in  latitud 
side,  calh 
surveyed 

Pitt's, 
small  isla 
islands. 
Bay  Con 

The  la 
that  calh 
length,  fi' 
of  48^  an 
east  by  t 


slands,  and  that 
I.  Further  cast- 
or MiUgrave,  or 
B[  first  landed  in 
it  is  stated  that 
art  of  the  coast ; 
siderable  stream 
r,)  empties  into 

itensive  is  Kodi- 
ska  on  the  west 
intainous,  and  it 
led  the  Guff  of 
Saint  Pauly  one 
of  Kodiak,  near 
Islands^  called 
[  on  one  of  them, 
id,  nearly  under 
enteen  thousand 
uth,  at  fourteen 
Le  mountains  in 

divisions  of  the 
waste,  traversed 
affording  a  sup- 
f  the  ocean.  It 
trade,  which  is 
nd  of  life  ;  and, 
umber,  this  part 
by  all  civilized 

y  stated,  in  a  re- 
le  58th  parallels, 
and  Ireland  on 
minutely  exam- 
ands  names  de- 
ly,  the  ministry, 
'  Great  Britain ; 
t  any  future  pe- 
all  these  names 
ill  be  attempted  I 


i 


'estem ;  the  two 
ns  who  occupy 
stern  side  of  the 
11  island,  in  the ; 
y  the  Spaniards 
!ook,  three  years ; 
3  of  this  strait, 
Norfolk  Sound, 
Neia  Archangel, 
It  was  estab- 


lished on  its  present  site  in  1804  -,  and,  by  the  most  recent  accounts,  it 
contains  about  a  thousand  inhabitants,  more  than  three-fourths  of  whom 
are  Aleutians.  The  fort  mounts  sixteen  short  eighteen-pounders,  and  ten 
long  nine-pounders,  and  is  garrisoned  by  about  three  hundred  persons. 
The  Admiralty  Islands  are  between  the  first  described  group  and  the 
main  land,  being  separated  from  the  former  by  the  Chatham  Canal,  and 
from  the  latter  by  Stephen's  Passa»-e.  The  part  of  the  sea  between  these 
two  groups  and  the  continent  on  the  north  is  called  Ch-oss  Sound,  from 
which  the  Lynn  Canal,  an  extensive  bay,  stretches  northward  behind 
Mount  Fairweather.  South  of  the  King  George's  and  the  Admiralty 
Islands  are  the  groups  of  the  Duke  of  York,  the  Prince  of  Wales,  and 
Revillagigedo,  (the  last  called  after  a  Viceroy  of  Mexico,)  between  which 
are  Prince  Frederick's  Sound,  the  Duke  of  Clarence's  Strait,  and  other 
passages. 

All  the  islands  above  mentioned  are  north  of  the  parallel  of  54  degrees 
40  minutes,  which  is  the  latitude  of  the  southernmost  point  of  the  Prince 
of  Wales's  Islands,  and  are  therefore  all,  with  the  coasts  of  the  continent 
in  their  vicinity,  among  the  territories  on  which  the  Russians  claim  the 
exclusive  right  of  making  settlements,  in  virtue  of  their  treaties  with 
the  United  States  and  Great  Britain,  as  before  stated  at  page  3. 

Between  the  52d  and  54th  parallels,  extends  a  large  island,  of  triangular 
shape,  which  will  be  found  on  the  map,  bearing  the  name  of  Queen  Char- 
lotte's, or  Washington's  Island.  Its  western  coast  was  discovered  by  the 
Spaniards  in  1774;  from  which  time  to  1787  it  was  considered,  like  all 
the  other  islands  of  the  Archipelago,  as  forming  part  of  the  continent.  In 
the  last  mentioned  year.  Captain  Dixon,  commanding  the  merchant  ship 
Queen  Charlotte,  of  London,  becoming  convinced  that  it  was  an  insulated 
territory,  bestowed  on  it  the  name  of  his  vessel ;  but  it  was  first  circum- 
navigated in  the  summer  of  1789,  by  Captain  Gray,  in  the  sloop  Wash- 
ington, of  Boston,  who,  without  knowing  any  thing  of  Dixon's  voyage, 
called  the  country  Washington's  Island.  It  was  the  favorite  resort  of  the 
early  American  fur-traders  in  the  north  Pacific ;  and  the  manuscript  Jour- 
nal of  Captain  Ingraham,  who  commanded  the  brig  Hope,  of  Boston,  in 
that  sea,  from  1791  to  1793,  contains  minute  descriptions  and  charts  of 
several  ports,  particularly  on  its  eastern  side,  which  are  not  noticed  in  any 
published  accounts  or  maps.  The  limits  of  this  sketch  do  not  admit  of  mi- 
nute descriptions,  or  many  interesting  facts  relative  to  the  island  in  ques- 
tion might  be  related  on  the  authority  of  Ingraham.  He  describes  the 
soil  and  climate  as  being  well  adapted  for  agricultural  purposes,  particu<- 
larly  in  the  vicinity  of  Oummashawah  Bay,  a  fine  harbor  on  the  east  coast» 
in  latitude  of  53  degrees  3  minutes;  and  oi Hancock's  River,  on  the  north 
side,  called  by  the  Spaniards  Port  Estrada,  which  was  after  it  had  been 
surveyed  and  named  by  the  captain  ©f  the  brig  Hancock,  from  Boston. 

Pitt's,  Burke's,  and  the  Princess  Royal  groups,  are  composed  of  many 
small  islands,  situated  very  near  the  continent,  east  of  Queen  Charlotte's 
islands.  On  one  of  these,  called  Dundas  Island,  the  British  Hudson's 
Bevy  Company  have  a  trading-post. 

The  largest  and  southernmost  island  in  the  northwest  Archipelago,  is 
that  called  Quadra  and  Vancouver's  Island,  extending,  in  its  greatest 
length,  firom  northwest  to  southeast  about  200  miles,  between  the  paralleli. 
of  48^  and  51  degrees,  and  separated  firom  the  continent  on  the  south  and 
east  by  the  arm  of  the  sea  called  the  Strait  of  Fuca.    The  spot  on  thir 


I' 


r^ 


:* 


a 


I, 


t 


8 


island  most  Avorthy  of  note  is  Nootka  Sound,  an  extensive  bay  communi- 
cating with  the  Pacific  in  latitude  of  49  degrees  34  minutes,  and  affording 
excellent  harbors  for  vessels  in  many  places,  particularly  in  Friendly  Cove, 
on  the  north  side,  about  ten  miles  from  the  ocean.  This  place  was  for 
many  years  the  chief  rendezvous  of  the  fur-traders  on  the  northwest  coast; 
and  some  of  the  most  important  events  in  the  history  of  that  part  of  the 
world  occurred  there,  as  may  be  seen  in  the  Gth  and  7th  chapters  of  this 
aiemoir.  The  name  of  Nootka  was  first  applied  by  Cook,  who  believed 
it  to  be  that  employed  by  the  natives ;  no  word  has,  however,  since  been 
found  in  use  among  them  more  nearly  resembling  Nootka  than  Yuqiiotl, 
their  name  for  Friendly  Cove.  A  few  miles  southeast  from  Nootka  is 
another  bay  called  Clj/oqiiot;  and  further  in  the  same  direction,  at  the  en- 
trance of  the  Strait  of  Fuca,  is  a  tliird  called  Nittinat,  in  which  are  many 
islands. 

The  Strait  of  Fuca  extends  between  the  island  last  described  and  the 
continent,  from  Cape  Flattery,  directly  eastward,  about  one  hundred  and 
twenty  miles,  and  thence  northwest  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  miles, 
communicating  with  the  ocean  in  the  north  through  an  entrance,  called 
by  the  Americans  Pintard^s,  and  by  the  British  Queen  Charlotte's  Sound. 
The  southern  part  of  the  strait  is  about  forty  miles  in  width ;  the  part 
running  northeast  is  in  some  places  nearly  as  wide,  but  generally  much 
narrower,  and  is  filled  with  islands.  This  passage  was  discovered,  in 
1592,  by  Juan  de  f'uca,  a  Greek  pilot,  who  declared  that  he  had  sailed 
through  it  into  the  Atlantic ;  his  statement  was,  however,  disproved  in 
1792  by  Vancouver,  Galiano,  and  Valdes,  who  surveyed  it  together,  and 
determined  that  it  was  only  a  great  sound.  The  island  which  it  sepa- 
rates from  the  continent,  in  that  year  received  its  present  long  and  in- 
convenient appellation,  by  agreement  between  Vancouver  and  the  Span- 
ish commandant,  Q,uadra. 

VIII.  The  parts  of  the  continent  contiguous  to  these  islands  have  re- 
ceived from  British  navigators  many  names,  such  as  New  Norfolk,  New 
Cornwall,  New  Hanover,  and  New  Georgii;  all  of  which  have  become  obso- 
lete. The  country  north  of  the  58th  parallel  is  almost  unknown.  Two  large 
rivers,  the  Peace  River  and  the  Tur^nagain,  flow  from  it  eastward  through 
the  Rocky  Mountains  into  the  Mackenzie,  which  empties  into  the  Arctic 
Sea ;  another  river,  called  the  Stikine,  has  also  been  lately  discovered 
entering  the  Pacific  east  of  Duke  of  York's  Island,  in  latitude  of  56  de- 
grees 60  minutes,  which  is  said  to  be  three  miles  wide  at  its  mouth  and 
one  mile  wide  thirty  miles  higher  up. 

The  country  on  the  Pacific,  between  the  49th  and  58th  parallels,  is  usual- 
ly distinguished  by  the  British  fur-traders  as  New  Caledonia;  and,  from  all 
accounts,  it  resembles  the  northern  part  of  Scotland  in  its  ruggedness,  its 
lakes,  and  its  barrenness.  Its  principal  lakes  are  Sttiart^s,  Babine,  and  FYa- 
zer^s  Lakes,  all  situated  between  the  54th  and  the  66th  parallels.  Babine 
Lake  communicates  with  the  Pacific  by  a  large  stream  called  Simpson*s 
River;  Frazer's  and  Stuart's  Lakes  are  head-waters  of  fVazer^s  River, 
which  flows  from  them  nearly  due  south  about  four  hundred  miles,  and 
enters  the  ocean  in  latitude  of  49  degrees.  The  soil  of  New  Caledonia 
is  everywhere  steril,  very  small  portions  only  being  fit  for  cultivation; 
Wid  the  climate,  though  much  milder  than  that  of  the  other  countries  of 
America  between  the  same  latitudes,  is  generally  too  severe  for  the  pro- 
duction of  the  ^culent  grains  and  vegetables.    The  British  Hudson's 


Bay  Com 
in  this  CO 
River,  ab( 
mouth  of 
nia,  comn 
bia,  by  w 

The  coi 
cino ;  it  v 

IX.  Cf 
about  ten 
grees  19  i 

From  i 
sand  four 
harbors,  c 

Port  B 
19  minut( 
vessel  in 
fornia  in 
on  the  oc( 
dred  inha 
of  provisi 

J^ort  S 
wide,  um 
from  the 
navigator; 
possessinj 
two  rivers 
and  anoth 
navigable 
beyond  w 
to  rise  in 
Mountain 
British  ai 
the  centre 
rous  adv{ 
Captain  I 

Monter 
ing  west\ 
Cape  Anc 
there  is  je 
prevailing 
which  so 
coast. 

Port  S 
Spaniards 
1769,  is  a 
the  land, 

Thei? 
San  Luc! 
same  in  ^ 
covered  h 
Port  Sat 
been  mos 


ilii. 


bay  communi- 
,  and  affording 
Friendly  Cove, 

place  was  for 
)rth west  coast ; 
hat  part  of  the 
hapters  of  this 

who  believed 
lex,  since  been 
.  than  Yuqiiotl, 
•om  Nootka  is 
ion,  at  the  en- 
hich  are  many 

;ribed  and  the 
i  hundred  and 
nd  fifty  miles, 
ntrance,  called 
rlotte's  Sound. 
idth ;  the  part 
eneraliy  much 
discovered,  in 

he  had  sailed 
,  disproved  in 
;  together,  and 
vhich  it  sepa- 
t  long  and  in- 
and  the  Span- 
lands  have  re- 

Norfolk,  New 
3  becorne  obso- 
\rii.  Two  large 
tward  through 
into  the  Arctic 
3ly  discovered 
tude  of  66  de- 
its  mouth  and 

dlels,  is  usual- 
;  and,  from  all 
uggedness,  its 
bine,  and  Fra- 
lUels.  Babine 
led  Simpson's 
Vazer^s  River, 
red  miles,  and 
ew  Caledonia 
r  cultivation; 
3r  countries  of 
e  for  the  pro- 
ish  Hudson's 


Bay  Company  have  several  establishments  for  carrying  on  the  ftir  trade 
in  this  country,  of  which  the  principal  tire  Fort  Alexandj-ia,  on  Frazer's 
River,  about  three  hundred  miles  from  the  sea,  and  Fort  Langly,  at  the 
mouth  of  the  same  stream.  Prom  these,  and  other  ports  in  New  Caledo- 
nia, communications  are  maintained  with  Fort  Vancouver,  on  the  Colum- 
bia, by  way  of  the  rivers,  and  by  steam  and  sail-vessels  on  the  sea. 

The  coast  of  Oregon  extends  from  the  Strait  of  Fuca  to  Cape  Mendo- 
cino ;  it  will  be  hereafter  particularly  described. 

IX.  Cape  Mendocino  presents  two  points  running  out  into  the  ocean, 
about  ten  miles  apart,  of  which  the  southernmost,  in  latitude  of  40  de- 
grees 19  minutes,  is  the  highest  and  the  most  prominent. 

From  it  the  coast  of  California  extends  southeastward,  about  one  thou- 
sand four  hundred  miles,  to  Cape  San  Lucas.  On  this  coast  are  several 
harbors,  of  which  the  principal  will  be  described. 

Port  iSorfeo-a^  communicating  with  the  Pacific  in  latitude  of  38  degrees 
19  minutes,  is  supposed  to  be  the  harbor  in  which  Drake  lay  with  his 
vessel  in  1579.  Here  the  Russians  made  their  first  settlement  in  Cali- 
fornia in  1812.  Their  chief  establishment  at  present  is  Ross,  immediately 
on  the  ocean,  about  thirty  miles  farther  north  ;  it  contains  about  four  hun- 
dred inhabitants,  and  from  it  the  northern  factories  receive  their  supplies 
of  provisions. 

Port  San  Francisco  joins  the  Pacific,  by  a  passage  about  two  miles 
wide,  under  the  parallel  of  37  degrees  55  minutes.  At  a  short  distance 
from  the  sea  it  expands  into  a  large  bay,  offering,  as  admitted  by  all  the 
navigators  who  have  visited  it,  one  of  the  finest  harbors  in  the  world,  and 
possessing  every  requisite  for  a  great  naval  establishment.  It  receives 
two  rivers,  the  Jesus  Maria  and  the  Sacramento,  at  its  northern  extremity, 
and  another  called  the  San  Joaquin  from  the  south.  The  Sacramento  is 
navigable  for  small  vessels  to  the  distance  of  eighty  miles  from  its  mouth, 
beyond  which  little  is  known  about  its  course ;  it  is  believed,  however, 
to  rise  in  the  northeast  angle  of  California,  near  the  junction  of  the  Snowy 
Mountains  with  the  Rocky  Mountains.  This  bay  is  much  frequented  by 
British  and  American  whaling  vessels,  and  it  is,  no  doubt,  destined  to  be 
the  centre  of  an  extensive  commerce.  Particular  accounts  of  its  nume- 
rous advantages  may  be  found  in  the  Journal  of  the  Voyage  made  by 
Captain  Beechey  through  the  North  Pacific  in  the  years  1824-'25. 

Monterey  Bay  is  contained  in  a  semicircular  recess  of  the  coast,  open- 
ing westw^^rd,  about  twenty  miles  in  width,  between  its  northern  point, 
Cape  Ano  Niievo  and  Cape  Pinos  on  the  south.  Just  within  Cape  Pinos 
there  is  good  anchorage  for  vessels,  where  they  are  protected  from  the 
prevailing  northwest  winds,  and  are  only  in  danger  from  the  violent  gusts 
which  sometimes  blow  from  the  southeast  along  the  whole  Californian 
coast. 

Port  San  Dieri-o,  in  latitude  of  32  degrees  51  minutes,  near  which  the 
Spaniards  planted  their  first  colony  on  the  west  coast  of  California  in 
1769,  is  a  long  arm  of  the  sea,  extending  southeast  from  its  mouth  into 
the  land,  and  defended  against  the  billows  by  a  sand-ridge. 

The  Bay  of  San  Jose,  near  the  23d  degree,  immediately  east  of  Cape 
San  Lucas,  at  the  southernmost  part  of  the  peninsula,  is  probably  the 
same  in  which  the  Spaniards  first  anchored  when  California  was  dis- 
covered by  them  in  1535,  and  which  received  from  Cortt's  the  name  of 
Port  Santa  Cruz.  It  is  one  of  the  places  where  the  pearl-fishery  has 
been  most  successful. 


i  ,  i 


n 


t: 


ill 

[0\ 


'  e 


h 


I. 


10 


ft 


!) 


Near  the  Californian  coast  are  many  small  settlements,  which  were 
originally  established  by  missionaries  of  the  Franciscan  order  from  Mex- 
ico, and  were  intended  chiefly  for  the  purpose  of  civilizing  and  convert- 
ing the  natives.  During  the  subsistence  of  the  Spanish  authority,  these 
missions  were  fostered  by  the  Government,  and  were  maintained  by 
means  of  supplies  sent  from  Mexico ;  but,  since  the  downfall  of  that 
Power,  they  have  not  only  received  little  assistance  from  Mexico,  but 
have,  moreover,  been  taxed  for  the  support  of  the  republic,  of  which  the 
Indian  neophytes  were  declared  to  be  citizens.  These  Indians  are,  how- 
ever, unfortunately,  among  the  most  indolent  and  unintellectual  of  the 
human  family ;  incapable  of  being  affected  by  any  other  considerations 
than  those  addressed  to  their  present  and  immediate  hopes  and  fears. 
The  missionaries  treated  them  as  children ;  and  those  who  have  been  re- 
moved from  under  the  care  and  authority  of  these  priests  have  uniformly 
sunk  at  once  into  misery  and  vice.  The  Mexican  population  is  little,  if 
at  all,  better  than  the  aboriginal ;  the  soldiers  and  colonists  sent  there  be- 
ing generally  criminals  banished  to  this — the  Botany  Bay  of  the  republic. 

There  is  no  rain  on  the  coast  of  California  from  March  to  November ; 
during  the  other  months  the  rains  are  generally  incessant,  though  in 
some  years  very  little  falls.  The  dews  in  summer  are,  however,  so  heavy 
as  to  prevent  the  destruction  of  vegetation.  Near  the  sea,  the  temperature 
IS  at  all  times  salubrious  and  agreeable,  the  heat  of  the  sun  in  summer  be- 
ing moderated  by  constant  breezes ;  but  farther  inland  it  is  said  to  be  most 
oppressive.  Agriculture  has  been,  as  yet,  little  practised  in  this  country ; 
the  inhabitants  subsisting  almost  entirely  on  the  meat  of  the  wild  cattle 
which  cover  the  plains.  The  soil  and  climate  appear  to  be  favorable  to 
the  growth  of  every  vegetable  substance  necessary  for  the  subsistence 
and  enjoyment  of  man ;  but  no  large  portion  of  the  territory  will  probably 
be  found  productive  without  artificial  irrigation. 

Of  the  interior  of  California  little  is  known.  The  northern  part,  or 
continental  portion,  called  New  California,  is  said  to  be  traversed  by 
mountain-ridges,  between  which  are  extensive  plains ;  some  covered  with 
grass,  forming  prairies,  others  sandy  and  destitute  of  vegetation,  and  others 
again  being  marshes.  It  appears  to  be  certain  that  very  little  of  the 
water  which  falls  on  this  country  from  the  clouds  finds  its  way  directly 
to  the  sea  *,  as  the  line  of  mountains  which  borders  the  coast  is  traversed 
only  by  a  few  inconsiderable  streams,  besides  those  emptying  into  the 
Bay  of  San  Francisco. 

The  peninsula,  or  Old  California,  is  about  seven  hundred  miles  in 
length,  and  one  hundred  and  thirty  in  breadth  where  it  joins  the  conti- 
nent, under  the  33d  parallel ;  farther  south  its  breadth  is  less,  not  exceed- 
ing fifty  miles  in  some  places.  The  whole  territory  consists  of  moun- 
tains ;  its  climate  is  hot  and  dry,  the  soil  is  barren,  and  the  inhabitants  are 
few  and  miserable,  deriving  their  support  almost  exclusively  from  the  sea. 

The  Gulf  of  California,  or  Sea  of  Cortes,  or  Vermillion  Sea,  which 
separates  the  peninsula  from  the  main  land  of  Mexico  on  the  east,  is 
about  seven  hundred  miles  in  length,  varying  in  breadth  from  sixty  to 
one  hundred  and  twenty.  At  its  northern  extremity  it  receives  two  large 
rivers — the  Gila,  flowing  from  the  east ;  and  the  Colorado,  which  rises  in 
the  north  among  the  Rocky  Mountains,  about  the  40th  degree  of  latitude, 
near  the  sources  of  the  Lewis,  the  Platte,  the  Arkansas,  and  the  Rio  del 
Norte.    The  northern  part  of  the  territory,  on  the  eastern  side  of  the 


gulf,  is  ca 
one  depar 
nora,  neai 
^America, 
of  the  gu 
Mazatlan 
ico  on  the 
same  nan 
place  and 
X.  We 


GENERAL 

It  has 

is  bounde 

that  the 

the  Pacifi 

leys  or  pi 

every  resi 

tains,  fon 

stretches 

a  few  pla( 

from  thos 

this  chaii 

eastern,  ai 

ica  suppli 

The  g( 

west  to  s 

48th,  it  is 

about  five 

due  south 

creasing, 

name  of  1 

the  last-n 

times  call 

The  h 

America, 

l  degree  of 

I  Mr.Thoi 

has  meaj 


is  estimai 
at  fifteen 
stated  th 
north,  wl 
either  of 
lofty  peal 
which  ej 
of  the  he 
the  56th 
it  is  onl) 
Near  t 
to  the  £ 


11 


s,  which  were 
rder  from  Mex- 
g  and  convert- 
luthority,  these 
maintained  by 
twnfall  of  that 
n  Mexico,  but 
5,  of  which  the 
lians  are,  how- 
illectual  of  the 
considerations 
)pes  and  fears. 
)  have  been  re- 
lave  uniformly 
ition  is  little,  if 
s  sent  there  be- 
of  the  republic, 
to  November; 
int,  though  in 
'^ever,  so  heavy 
he  temperature 
in  summer  be- 
said  to  be  most 
1  this  country ; 
the  wild  cattle 
be  favorable  to 
le  subsistence 
J  will  probably 

rthem  part,  or 
B  traversed  by 
le  covered  with 
ion,  and  others 
y  little  of  the 
ts  way  directly 
ist  is  traversed 
tying  into  the 

idred  miles  in 
)ins  the  conti- 
ss,  not  exceed- 
lists  of  moun- 
nhabitants  are 
/"  from  the  sea. 
m  Sea,  which 
n  the  east,  is 
from  sixty  to 
ives  two  large 
which  rises  m 
ree  of  latitude, 
id  the  Rio  del 
n  side  of  the 


gulf,  is  called  Sonora,  and  the  southern  part  Sinaloa ;  they  together  form 
one  department  of  the  Mexican  republic.  The  harbor  of  Gvaymas  in  So- 
nora,  near  the  28th  degree  of  latitude,  is  said  to  be  one  of  the  best  in 
America,  and  the  town  has  a  large  and  increasing  trade ;  at  the  entrance 
of  the  gulf,  on  its  eastern  side,  is  another  rising  commercial  place,  called 
Mazatlan ;  and  farther  south  is  San  Bias,  among  the  principal  ports  of  Mex- 
ico on  the  Pacific.  The  old  Mexican  towns  of  Culiacan,  on  the  river  of  the 
same  name  a  little  north  of  Mazatlan,  and  Chiametla,  between  the  latter 
place  and  San  Bias,  are  now  nearly  deserted. 
X.  We  next  proceed  to  take  a — 

GENERAL  VIEW  OP  THE  PRINCIPAL   MOUNTAIN-CHAINS  OP  NORTH  AMERICA. 

It  has  been  already  said,  that  the  whole  western  coast  of  North  America 
is  bounded  by  a  continuous  chain  of  mountains ,  and  it  may  now  be  added, 
that  the  whole  interior  of  the  continent,  to  a  considerable  distance  from 
the  Pacific,  is  traversed  by  lofty  ridges,  separated  from  each  other  by  val- 
leys or  plains  of  small  extent.  Of  these  interior  ridges,  the  principal  in 
every  respect  is  that  known  by  the  general  name  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains, forming  the  northern  portion  of  the  great  chain  of  highlands  which 
stretches  from  the  Arctic  Sea  to  the  Strait  of  Magellan,  dividing,  except  in 
a  few  places,  the  territories  drained  by  streams  flowing  into  the  Atlantic, 
from  those  whose  waters  enter  the  Pacific.  Throughout  its  whole  course, 
this  chain  lies  nearer  to  the  western  shores  of  the  continent  than  to  the 
eastern,  and  therefore  much  the  greater  quantity  of  the  water  which  Amer- 
ica supplies  to  the  ocean  is  discharged  into  the  Atlantic. 

The  general  course  of  the  Rocky  Mountain  ridge  is  from  north-north- 
west to  south-southeast.  Between  the  58th  degree  of  latitude  a*id  the 
48th,  it  is  nearly  parallel  to  the  Pacific  coast,  from  which  its  distance  is 
about  five  hundred  miles;  from  the  48th  degree  to  the  40th,  the  coast  runs 
due  south,  so  that  the  distance  between  it  and  the  ridge  is  constantly  in- 
creasing, and  on  the  40th  parallel  exceeds  seven  hundred  miles.  The 
name  of  Rocky  Mountains  is  not  applied  to  any  part  of  the  chain  south  of 
the  last-mentioned  latitude ;  the  parts  north  of  the  50th  degree  are  some- 
times called  the  Chipewyan  Mountains. 

The  highest  points  in  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  probably  in  North 
America,  if  not  in  the  whole  western  continent,  are  those  about  the  62cl 
degree  of  latitude,  near  the  northernmost  sources  of  the  Columbia  river. 
Mr.  Thompson,  the  astronomer  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Trading  Company, 
has  measured  scA^eral  of  these  peaks,  of  which,  one  called  Mount  Brown 
is  estimated  by  him  at  sixteen  thousand  feet,  and  another,  Mount  Hooker^ 
at  fifteen  thousand  seven  hundred  feet  above  the  ocean  level.  It  has  been 
stated  that  the  same  gentleman  has  recently  found  other  points  farther 
north,  which  he  considers  to  be  more  than  ten  thousand  feet  higher  than 
either  of  those  above  mentioned.  About  the  42d  parallel  are  also  many 
lofty  peaks,  particularly  among  the  Wind-river  Mountains,  a  spur  or  offset, 
which  extends  southeast  from  the  main  chain,  and  from  which  flow  many 
of  the  head-waters  of  the  Missouri  and  the  Yellow  Stone  Rivers.  North  of 
the  56th  degree  the  ridge  diminishes  in  height,  and  near  the  Arctic  Sea 
it  is  only  a  line  of  hills. 

Near  the  42d  degree  of  latitude,  three  other  extensive  ridges  are  united 
to  the  Rocky  Mountains ;  one  on  its  eastern  side,  running  towards  the 


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Mexican  Gulf,  and  forming  the  eastern  wall  of  a  great  valley  or  basin, 
through  which  flows  the  river  Bravo  del  Norte ;  another,  stretching  south- 
west to  and  through  the  peninsula  of  California,  between  which  and  the 
Rocky  Mountains  is  a  vast  region,  drained  principally  by  the  rivers  Colo- 
rado and  CrtVrt,  emptying  into  the  northern  extremity  of  the  Californian 
Gulf;  the  third  ridge  is  that  commonly  called  the  Snoipy  Mountains,  run- 
ning westward  to  the  Pacific,  in  which  it  terminates  at  Cape  Mendocino, 
and  completely  separating  Oregon,  or  the  country  of  the  Columbia,  on  the 
north,  from  California  on  its  southern  side.  From  the  place  of  union  of 
these  chains  also  flow  the  head-waters  of  the  Bravo,  emptying  into  the 
Mexican  Gulf — of  the  Colorado — of  the  Lewis,  the  principal  southern 
branch  of  the  Columbia  which  falls  into  the  Pacific  —and  of  the  Missouri, 
the  Yellow  Stone,  the  Platte,  and  the  Arkansas,  all  of  which  are  dis- 
charged into  the  Mississippi. 

Near  the  place  of  union  of  these  chains  is  a  remarkable  depression  of 
the  Rocky  Mountains,  called  the  Southern  Pass,  aflbrding  a  short  and 
easy  route  for  carriages  between  the  head-waters  of  the  south  branch  of 
the  Platte,  on  the  east,  and  those  of  the  Colorado,  on  the  west ;  from 
which  latter,  is  another  pass  through  the  mountains,  northward,  to  the 
Lewis  River.  There  are  other  depressions  of  the  great  chain  farther 
north,  between  the  Yellow  Stone,  on  the  one  side,  and  the  Salmon  River 
and  Flathead  branches  of  the  Columbia,  on  the  other ;  but  they  offer 
much  greater  difficulties  to  the  traveller  than  the  Southern  Pass,  which 
is,  and  will  probably  continue  to  be,  the  principal  avenue  of  communica- 
tion between  the  United  States  and  the  territories  of  the  Far  West. 

In  latitude  of  o3  is  the  great  cleft,  from  which  the  Columbia  flows,  on 
one  side,  to  the  Pacific,  and  the  Athabasca,  on  the  other,  to  the  Mackenzie 
emptying  into  the  Arctic  Ocean.  Farther  north,  the  Peace  and  the  Turn- 
again  Rivers,  which  rise  near  the  Pacific,  pass  through  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains into  the  Mackenzie. 

Respecting  the  Snowy  Mountains,  very  little  exact  information  has  been 
obtained.  They  appear  to  run  in  an  unbroken  line,  from  Cape  Mendocino 
to  the  Rocky  Mountains,  between  the  39th  and  the  42d  parallels  of  lati- 
tude, and  to  be  united  with  the  other  ridges  extending  northward  and 
southward.  Whether  they  are  to  be  considered  as  a  distinct  chain,  or  as 
formed  by  the  union  of  branches  from  the  others,  is  a  question  interesting 
only  to  the  geologist ;  certain  it  is,  that  they  present  a  complete  barrier 
between  California  and  the  country  of  the  Columbia. 

XL  The  remainder  of  this  sketch  will  be  devoted  entirely  to  the  con- 
sideration of— 

OREGON,  OR  THE  COUNTRY  OF  THE  COLUMBIA. 

Oregon,  considered  as  camprekending  the  territory  drained  by  the  Co- 
lumbia river,  together  with  the  seacoasts  of  that  territory,  lies  within  the 
following  natural  boundaries :  on  the  east,  the  Rocky  Mountains,  extend- 
ing about  nine  hundred  miles,  from  the  54th  parallel  to  the  41st;  on  the 
south,  the  Snowy  Mountains,  in  their  whole  length  about  seven  hundred 
miles,  from  the  Rocky  Mountains  to  Cape  Mendocino,  on  the  Pacific,  near 
the  40th  degree  of  latitude ;  on  the  loest,  the  Pacific  Ocean,  from  Cape 
Mendocino,  about  five  hundred  miles  due  north,  to  Cape  Flattery,  at  the 
entrance  of  the  Strait  of  Fuca,  near  the  48th  degree  of  latitude;  and  on 


the  north 
twenty  m 
summit 
those  of 
about  the 
territory  ( 
at  about 
The  CO 
twenty  n 
joins  the 
are  comp 
from  thei 
rise  abru 
harbor 
southeas 
nient  for 
and  is  d 
which  sti 
ther  east 
continen 
minating 
PvgeVs 
westwarc 
country  f 
tiful,  felt 
rous  arm 
commerc 
ding -post 
the  sou  til 
On  thi 
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and  bars 
state,"  sj 
I    boats  ca 
I    should  t 
haps,  be 
the  Rive, 
discover 
it  will  b 
the  Spai 
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cording 
rivers  it 
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13 


alley  or  basin, 
retching  south- 
which  and  the 
the  rivers  Colo- 
the  Californian 
fomitains,  run- 
pe  Mendocino, 
lumbia,  on  the 
ice  of  union  of 
•tying  into  the 
cipal  southern 
f  the  Missouri, 
ivhich  are  dis- 

B  depression  of 
g  a  short  and 
outh  branch  of 
le  west ;  from 
thward,  to  the 
chain  farther 
Salmon  River 
but  they  offer 
n  Pass,  which 
f  communica- 
ir  West, 
nbia  flows,  on 
;he  Mackenzie 
and  the  Turn- 
Rocky  Moun- 

ation  has  been 
ipe  Mendocino 
irallels  of  lati- 
orthward  and 
;t  chain,  or  as 
on  interesting 
tnplete  barrier 

ly  to  the  con- 


erf  Ay  the  Go- 
es within  the 
tains,  extend- 
!  41st ;  on  the 
sven  hundred 
Pacific,  near 
n,  from  Cape 
lattery,  at  the 
tude;  and  on 


the  north,  the  Strait  of  Fuca,  from  Cape  Flattery,  about  one  hundred  and 
twenty  miles  eastward,  and  thence  by  a  line  running  northeast,  along  the 
summit  of  the  highlands  separating  the  waters  of  the  Columbia  from 
those  of  Frazer's  River,  to  the  Rocky  Mountains,  which  it  would  reach 
about  the  54th  degree  of  latitude.  Such  are  the  natural  boundaries  of  the 
territory  drained  by  the  Columbia,  the  surface  of  which  may  be  estimated 
at  about  three  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  square  miles. 

The  coast  of  Oregon  on  the  Strait  of  hhca  is  about  one  hundred  and 
twenty  miles  in  length,  eastward  from  Cape  Flattery,  where  the  strait 
joins  the  Pacific  under  the  parallel  of  48  degrees  23  minutes.  The  shores 
are  composed  of  low  sandy  cliffs,  overhanging  beaches  of  sand  or  stones; 
from  them  the  land  ascends  gradually  to  the  foot  of  the  mountains,  which 
rise  abruptly  to  a  great  height  within  a  few  miles  of  the  sea.  The  only 
harbor  immediately  on  the  strait  is  Port  Discovery,  situated  near  the 
southeast  angle,  which  Vancouver  pronounces  perfectly  safe  and  conve- 
nient for  ships  of  any  size ;  it  runs  southward  from  the  strait  into  the  land, 
and  is  defended  from  the  violence  of  the  waves  by  Protection  Island, 
which  stretches  partly  across  its  entrance  on  the  north.  A  few  miles  far- 
ther east  a  long  arm  of  the  sea,  called  Admiralty  Inlet,  penetrates  the 
continent,  soutliward  from  the  strait,  more  than  one  hundred  miles,  ter- 
minating near  the  47th  degree  of  latitude  in  a  bay  named  by  Vancouver 
PiigeVs  Sound ;  Hood's  Canal  is  a  branch  of  this  inlet,  extending  south- 
westward,  and  many  smaller  branches  are  given  off  on  each  side.  The 
country  surrounding  Admiralty  Inlet  is  described  by  Vancouver  as  beau- 
tiful, fertile,  and  in  every  respect  agreeable ;  and  the  bay,  with  its  nume- 
rous arms  stretching  into  the  interior,  must  offer  great  advantages  for 
commercial  intercourse  hereafter.  The  Hudson's  Bay  Company  has  tra- 
ding-posts on  these  waters,  of  which  the  principal  is  Port  Nasqually,  at 
the  southernmost  part  of  Puget's  Sound. 

On  the  Pacific,  the  coast  of  Oregon  extends  five  hundred  miles  in  a 
line  nearly  straight  from  north  to  south,  presenting  in  its  whole  length 
but  two  places  of  refuge  for  vessels.  The  northernmost  of  these  is  Bul- 
finch's  or  Gray's  Ray,  discovered  in  May,  1792,  by  Captain  Robert  Gray, 
of  Boston ;  it  is  situated  in  latitude  of  46  degrees  58  minutes,  and  offers 
a  secure  anchorage  for  small  vessels,  sheltered  from  the  sea  by  sandy  spiis 
and  bars.  "  It  appears  to  be  of  little  importance  as  a  port,  in  its  natural 
state,"  says  Vancouver,  "  as  it  affords  but  two  or  three  situations  wherp 
boats  can  approach  sufficiently  near  the  shore  to  effect  a  landing ;"  '  c 
should  the  country  become  settled,  this  and  other  disadvantages  may,  per- 
haps, be  corrected  by  artificial  means.  The  other  harbor  is  the  mmith  of 
the  River  Columbia,  about  thirty  miles  south  of  the  former,  which  was  also 
discovered  by  Captain  Gray,  and  received  from  him  the  name  of  his  ship; 
it  will  be  described  particularly  hereafter.  Port  Trinidad,  so  called  by 
the  Spaniards  who  anchored  there  in  1775,  is  an  open  loadstead  in  lati- 
tude 41  degrees  3  minutes,  entirely  unprotected  fiom  the  ocean,  and,  ac- 
cording to  Vancouver,  unworthy  to  be  called  a  harbor.  Several  small 
rivers  fall  into  the  Pacific  south  of  the  Columbia,  of  which  the  principal 
are  the  Klamet  and  the  Umqtia,  both  discharging  their  waters  near  the 
43d  parallel.  Vessels  drawing  not  more  than  eight  feet  water  may  enter 
the  Umqua ;  at  the  mouth  of  which  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  have  a 
trading-factory. 

On  this  coast  are  several  capes ;  none  of  which,  however,  project  far 


It 
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into  the  ocean.  The  most  remarkable  is  Cape  Blanco^  discovered  by  the 
Spanish  navigator  Aguilar  in  1803,  and  named  by  Vancouver  in  1792 
Cape  Orford',  it  hes  nearly  under  the  43d  parallel,  and  is  the  extremity  of 
a  line  of  highlands  which  separates  the  valley  of  the  Umqua,  on  the  north, 
from  the  Klamet,  on  the  south.  The  only  island  between  Cape  Flattery 
and  Cape  Mendocino,  which  has  been  thought  worthy  of  a  name,  is  one 
close  to  the  continent,  near  the  latitude  of  47^  degrees,  called  by  the  Span- 
iards Isla  de  Dolores^  or  Isle  of  Grief,  in  commemoration  of  the  murder 
of  some  of  their  men  on  the  contiguous  main  land;  it  afterwards  re- 
ceived the  appellation  of  Destruction  Island,  from  a  similar  loss  there  sus- 
tained by  a  British  vessel  in  1787. 

XII.  The  territory  drained  by  the  Cohimbia  presents  a  constant  suc- 
cession of  mountain-ridges  and  valleys,  or  plains  of  small  extent.  The 
principal  ridges  are  two  in  number,  besides  the  Rocky  Mountains,  run- 
ning nearly  parallel  to  each  other  and  to  the  coasts ;  and  the  country 
is  thus  divided  into  three  great  regions,  which  differ  materially  in  chmate, 
soil,  and  productive  powers.  The  Jirst  region,  or  low  country,  is  that 
between  the  coast  and  the  chain  of  mountains  nearest  to  the  sea ;  the  sec- 
ond reg-ion  is  between  the  mountains  nearest  the  sea  and  the  middle  ridge, 
called  the  Blue  Mountains ;  and  the  third  region,  or  high  country,  is  be- 
tween the  Blue  Mountains  and  the  Rocky  Mountains.  All  these  divis- 
ions are  crossed  by  the  Columbia,  the  main  stream  of  which  is  formed  in 
the  middle  region,  by  the  union  of  several  branches  flowing  from  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  and  receiving  in  their  course  supplies  from  innumera- 
ble smaller  tributaries  draining  the  intermediate  countries. 

The  chain  of  mountains  ruiming  nearest  the  Pacific,  southward  from 
the  Strait  of  Fuca,  has  received  many  names,  no  one  of  which  appears  to 
have  been  generally  adopted.  It  is  called  the  California  Mountains ;  the 
Klamet  Mountains,  from  the  Indian  nation  which  occupies  a  part  of  the 
territory  on  its  western  side ;  and  the  Cascade  Mountains,  from  the  cas- 
cades or  cataracts  formed  by  the  Columbia,  in  passing  through  the  ridge. 
Mr.  Kelly,  a  patriotic  American  citizen,  has  proposed  to  call  it  the  Presi- 
dent Range,  and  has  accordingly  assigned  to  the  seven  highest  peaks, 
respectively,  the  names  of  the  Chief  Magistrates  of  the  United  States,  from 
Washington  to  Jackson,  in  succession.*  These  mountains  are  of  con- 
siderable elevation,  and  many  of  their  summits  are  visible  from  a  great 
distance  at  sea,  especially  the  most  northern,  called  Mount  Olympus, 
near  Cape  Flattery.  Mr.  Wyeth  speaks  thus  rapturously  of  the  view 
of  them  from  the  top  of  one  of  the  Blue  Mountains :  "  The  traveller  going 
west,  sees  the  high  points  of  the  California  Mountains,  about  one  hundred 
and  sixty  miles  distant,  some  of  which  rise  about  sixteen  thousand  feet 
above  the  level  of  the  Pacific.  All  other  views  in  America  sink  into  lit- 
tleness in  comparison  with  this.    From  one  spot,  I  have  seen  seven  of 


♦  Kelly's  Mount  Washington  is  the  same  called  by  Vancouver  Mount  Hood,  rising  due  east 
of  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia,  at  the  distance  of  about  one  hundred  miles;  Mount  Adams  u 
the  Mount  St.  Helen's,  of  the  same  navigator,  under  the  45th  parallel ;  Mount  Jefferson  re- 
ceived that  name  from  Lewis  and  Clarke,  in  1805;  it  is  the  lofty  peak  in  latitude  of  4 U  de- 
grees, which  the  British  fur-traders  have  thought  proper  to  call  Mount  Vancouver;  Mntnt 
Madison  is  the  Mount  Maclaughlin  of  the  British  maps;  Mount  Monroe  is  in  latitude  of  43  de- 
grees 20  minutes ;  Mount  John  Quinci/  Adams  is  in  42  degrees  10  minutes;  Mount  Jackson  is  a 
stupendous  pinnacle,  under  the  parallel  of  41  degrees  40  minutes,  called  by  the  British  Mount 
jPitt, 


the  high  \ 
whiteness 
loaves."* 
The  dis 
one  hunt 
crossed  in 
chain,  soi 
ocean.   B 
lie  immec 
flowing  ir 
the  Pacifi 
northern, 
been  repo 
as  the  M 
has  been 
trance  int 
lightful  ai 
The  cli 
the  other 
tiveness. 
while  the 
gon;  dur 
the  rains  i 
dry  seaso: 
are  less  fr 
reduced  t 
snow  is  ri 
may  gene 
lumbia  w 
quence  ol 
Wyeth,  " 
tatoes,  an 
Indian  c< 
yield  of  i 
best  qua! 
the  winte 
open  fielc 
of  the  CO 
the  extre 
sustain  t' 
Of  the 
lands  ar( 
of  timbe 
heavy  to 
be  remoi 
acquaint 
ever,  pn 
the  next 
are  extri 


♦  Letter 
on  the  Ore 


-» 

^ 


illl:h 


■il^ 


15 


covered  by  the 
ouver  in  1792 
16  extremity  of 
I,  on  the  north, 
Cape  Flattery 
a  name,  is  one 
d  by  the  Span- 
of  the  murder 
afterwards  re- 
loss  there  sus- 

constant  suc- 
extent.  The 
ountains,  run- 
i  the  country 
Uly  in  chmate, 
untryy  is  that 
e  sea ;  the  sec- 
!  middle  ridge, 
^ountrp,  is  be- 
ll these  divis- 
h  is  formed  in 
ring  from  the 
3m  innumera- 

uthward  from 
ich  appears  to 
ountains;  the 
i  a  part  of  the 
from  the  cas- 
igh  the  ridge. 
I  it  the  Presi- 
lighest  peaks, 
d  States,  from 
s  are  of  con- 

from  a  great 
mt  OlympuSf 

of  the  view 
■aveller  going 
one  hundred 
housand  feet 
sink  into  lit- 
een  seven  of 


I,  rising  due  east 
Mount  Adams  u 
int  Jefferson  re- 
titudeuf4U  de- 
ncouver;  AJ»u>U 
itimde  of  43  de- 
runt  Jackson  is  a 
e  British  Mount 


the  high  points  of  this  range,  extending  from  north  to  south,  their  perfect 
whiteness  and  steep  conical  shape  causing  them  to  appear  like  huge  sugar- 
loaves."* 

The  distance  from  the  coast  to  the  foot  of  this  chain  is  in  some  places 
one  himdred  miles,  in  others  much  less.  The  intervening  country  is 
crossed  in  various  directions  by  low  ridges  connected  with  the  principal 
chain,  some  of  which  run  parallel  to  it,  while  others  stretch  towards  the 
ocean.  Between  these  ridges  are  valleys,  of  which  the  two  most  extensive 
lie  immediately  at  the  base  of  the  great  chain,  and  are  drained  by  rivers 
flowing  into  the  Columbia;  the  waters  from  the  others  falling  directly  into 
the  Pacific.  Of  the  two  rivers  which  empty  into  the  Columbia,  the 
northern,  called  the  Cowiliiz,  has  been  imperfectly  examined,  and  little  has 
been  reported  concerning  it.  The  southern,  described  by  Lewis  and  Clarke 
as  the  MuUonomahf  but  now  more  generally  known  as  the  Wallamety 
has  been  traced  more  than  two  hundred  miles  due  south,  from  its  en- 
trance into  the  Columbia,  through  a  valley  which  is  said  to  be  the  most  de- 
lightful and  fertile  part  of  Northwest  America. 

The  climate  of  this  region  is  more  favorable  to  agriculture  than  those  of 
the  other  parts  of  Oregon,  although  it  is  certainly  adverse  to  great  produc- 
tiveness. The  summer  is  warm  and  very  dry.  From  April  to  October, 
while  the  westerly  winds  prevail,  rain  seldom  falls  in  any  part  of  Ore- 
gon ;  during  the  other  months,  when  the  south  wind  blows  constantly, 
the  rains  are  almost  incessant  in  the  lower  region,  although  sometimes  the 
dry  season  there  continues  longer.  Farther  from  the  Pacific,  the  rains 
are  less  frequent  and  abundant ;  and  near  the  Rocky  Mountains,  they  are 
reduced  to  a  few  showers  in  the  spring.  In  the  valleys  of  the  low  country 
snow  is  rarely  seen,  and  the  ground  is  not  often  frozen,  so  that  ploughing 
may  generally  be  carried  on  during  the  whole  winter.  In  1834  the  Co- 
lumbia was  frozen  for  thirteen  days,  but  this  was  principally  in  conse- 
quence of  the  accumulation  of  ice  from  above.  *'  This  country,"  says  Mr. 
Wyeth,  "  is  well  calculated  for  wheat,  barley,  oav^,  rye,  pease,  apples,  po- 
tatoes, and  all  the  roots  cultivated  in  the  northern  States  of  the  Union ; 
Indian  corn  does  not  succeed  well,  and  is  an  unprofitable  crop.  The 
yield  of  wheat,  with  very  poor  cultivation,  is  about  fifteen  bushels  of  the 
best  quality  to  the  acre.  Horses  and  neat  cattle  succeed  tolerably  well ; 
the  winter  being  mild,  they  are  enabled  to  subsist  upon  the  produce  of  the 
open  fields.  Hogs  live  and  multiply,  but  cannot  be  made  fat  on  the  range 
of  the  country.  The  agriculture  of  this  region  must  always  suffer  from 
the  extreme  dryness  of  the  summer.  The  products  which  ripen  earliest 
sustain  the  least  damage,  but  those  which  come  late  are  often  injured." 

Of  the  soil  of  this  region,  the  same  acute  observer  says :  "  The  up- 
lands are  tolerably  good,  but  the  cost  of  clearing  the  enormous  growth 
of  timber  on  them  would  be  beyond  their  worth ;  it  is  too  thick  and 
heavy  to  allow  of  crops  being  obtained  by  girdling  the  trees ;  and  it  must 
be  removed  or  burnt,  the  labor  of  which  is  beyond  the  conception  of  those 
acquainted  only  with  the  forests  of  the  United  States.  There  are,  how- 
ever, prairies  sufficiently  numerous  and  extensive  for  the  cultivation  of 
the  next  century,  which,  being  chiefly  on  the  second  bottoms  of  rivers, 
are  extremely  fertile,  and  above  inundation."    The  forests  in  this  part  of 

♦  Letter  from  Nath.  Wyeih,  in  the  report  of  the  comtni)tee  of  the  House  of  Representatives 
on  the  Oregon  Territory,  presented  February  16, 1838.    See  page  19ij  of  thiii  memoir. 


il 


if 


I' 


f 


m 


•      1:1 


'  t 


Iv 


1 

ft 

5' 


'.t 


I 


I'"' 
ll'i! 

i; 


iil^ 


16 

America  are,  from  all  accounts,  magnificent.  Ross  Cox  describes  a  fir 
growing  near  Fort  George,  or  Astoria,  on  the  Columbia,  about  eight  miles 
irom  the  sea,  which  measured  forty-six  feet  in  circumference  at  ten  feet 
from  the  ground,  one  hundred  and  fifty-three  feet  in  length  before  giving 
oflf  a  branch,  and  not  less  than  three  hundred  feet  in  its  whole  height. 
Another  tree,  of  the  same  species,  is  said  to  be  standing  on  the  banks  of 
the  Umqua,  the  trunk  of  which  is  fifty-seven  feet  in  circumference,  and 
two  hundred  and  sixteen  feet  in  length,  below  its  branches.  Cox  adds, 
that  "prime  sound  pines,  from  two  hundred  to  two  hundred  and  eighty 
feet  in  height,  and  from  twenty  to  forty  feet  in  circumference,  are  by  no 
means  uncommon." 

XIII.  The  Bfui^  Mountains  extend  from  north  to  south,  though  the 
whole  territory  of  the  Columbia,  between  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  the 
chain  which  borders  the  coast.  Their  course  is  not  so  regular  or  clearly  de- 
fined as  those  of  the  other  chains ;  and  they  appear  to  be  broken  into  sev- 
eral ridges,  some  of  which  run  towards  the  Rocky  Mountains  on  the  east, 
while  others  join  the  westernmost  chain.  These  mountains  are  steep  and 
rocky,  generally  volcanic,  and  some  of  them  covered  with  eternal  snow ; 
they  are  crossed  by  both  branches  of  the  Columbia,  which  also  receives 
several  tributaries  from  the  valleys  on  their  western  sides. 

The  middle  region  of  Oregon,  between  the  njountains  nearest  the  coast 
on  the  west  and  the  liiue  Mountains  on  the  east,  is  more  elevated,  more 
dry,  and  less  fertile,  than  the  Imo  coxmtry.  It  consists  chiefly  of  plains, 
between  ridges  of  mountains,  the  soil  of  which  is  generally  a  yellow  sandy 
clay,  covered  with  grass,  small  shrubs,  and  prickly  pears.  Timber  is 
very  scarce;  the  trees,  which  are  small,  and  of  soft  useless  woods,  such  as 
cotton-wood,  sumach,  and  willow,  being  only  found  in  the  neighhorhood 
of  the  streams.  The  climate  during  the  summer  is  universally  repre- 
sented as  most  agreeable  and  salubrious;  the  days  are  warm,  and  the 
nights  cool ;  but  the  want  of  moisture  in  the  air  prevents  the  contrast  of 
temperature  from  being  injurious  to  the  health.  The  rains  begin  later  in 
the  year,  and  end  sooner,  than  in  the  lower  country,  and  they  are  less 
constant  and  heavy.  There  is  little  snow  in  the  southern  valleys ;  farther 
north  it  is  more  common. 

Few  attempts  at  cultivation  have  been  made  in  this  region,  and  they 
have  not  been,  upon  the  whole,  successful.  Wyeth  conceives  that  "  the 
agriculture  of  this  territory  must  always  be  limited  to  the  wants  of  a  pas- 
toral people,  and  to  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  streams  and  mountains; 
and  irrigation  must  be  resorted  to,  if  a  large  population  is  to  be  supported 
in  it.  This  country,  which  affords  little  prospect  for  the  tiller  of  the  soil, 
is  perhaps  one  of  the  best  for  grazing  in  the  world.  It  has  been  much 
underrated  by  travellers  who  have  only  passed  by  the  Columbia,  the 
land  along  which  is  a  collection  of  sand  and  rocks,  and  almost  with- 
out vegetation ;  but  a  few  miles  from  the  Columbia,  towards  the  hills  and 
mountains,  the  prairies  open  wide,  covered  with  a  low  grass  of  a  most  nu- 
tritious kind,  which  remains  good  throughout  the  year.  In  September 
there  are  slight  rains,  at  which  time  the  grass  starts ;  and  in  October  and 
November  there  is  a  good  coat  of  green  grass,  which  remains  so  until  the 
ensuing  summer;  and  about  June  it  is  ripe  in  the  lower  plains,  and,  dry- 
ing without  being  wet,  is  like  made  hay;  in  this  state  it  remains  until  the 
autumn  rains  again  revive  it.  The  herdsman  in  this  extensive  valley 
(of  more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  in  width)  could  at  all  times 


keep  his 
mer,  on  tli 
4ry  grass 
the  countr 
traders  in 
hundreds 
beef,  is  su 
raising  th 
consequei 
meat,  whi 
that  sheep 
ciently  wa 
•^healthiest 
small  qua 
tion  from 
XIV.  T 
included  I 
tains  on  t 
rocky  moi 
wide  plaii 
never  be  i 
of  inhabit 
treine  dryi 
the  niffht. 
is  little  sn 
ally  on  th 
Wyeth  sa 
1832,  mar 
degrees  ai 
degrees  b 
stances  ai 
region  eni 
strongly  ii 
rish  in  it, 
In  this 
branches 
parallel,  a 
waters  frc 
I  There  are 
%  nicate  wil 
*  therefore 


I 


♦  VVhene 
with  itself  li 
the  earth,  Iv 
iak(.n  Irom 
coiisiantly  a 
facts  her";  i 
no  case  can 
vall.ys,  Vo- 
imnresnite 
of  the  Rod 
salt  ns  t(  r 
abundancv'. 
or  of  a  lar^ 
drain  from 


17 


describes  n  fir 
out  eight  miles 
noe  at  ten  feet 
h  before  giving 
whole  height, 
n  the  banlis  of 
imference,  and 
es.  Cox  adds, 
red  and  eighty 
!nce,  are  by  no 

h,  though  the 
ntains  and  the 
jr  or  clearly  de- 
roken  into  sev- 
ns  on  the  east, 
s  are  steep  and 

eternal  snow ; 
1  also  receives 

jarest  the  coast 
elevated,  more 
iefiy  of  plains, 
a  yellow  sandy 
rs,  Tinnber  is 
ivoods,  such  as 
neighborhood 
versally  repre- 
varm,  and  the 
the  contrast  of 
i  begin  later  in 
I  they  are  less 
alleys ;  farther 

pon, and  they 
Ives  that  "  the 
^ants  of  a  pas- 
id  mountains; 
1  be  supported 
ler  of  the  soil, 
IS  been  much 
^lumbia,  the 

almost  with- 
I  the  hills  and 

of  a  most  nu- 
In  September 
1  October  and 
IS  so  until  the 
ins,  and,  dry- 
ains  until  the 
ensive  valley 
1  at  all  times 


keep  his  animals  in  good  grass,  by  approaching  the  moiintains  in  sum- 
mer, on  tlio  declivities  of  which  ulaiust  any  climate  may  he  hud  ;  and  the 
dry  grass  of  the  country  is  at  all  times  excellent.  It  is  in  this  section  of 
the  country  that  all  the  horses  are  reared  for  the  supply  of  the  Indians  and 
traders  in  the  interior.  It  is  not  uncouuuon  that  one  Indian  owns  some 
Jiundreds  of  theni.  I  think  this  section,  for  producing  hides,  tuliow,  and 
beef,  is  superior  to  any  part  of  North  America;  for,  with  equal  facilities  for 
raising  the  animals,  the  weather  in  winter,  when  the  grass  is  best,  and 
consequently  the  best  time  to  fatten  the  animals,  is  cold  enough  to  salt 
meat,  which  is  not  the  case  in  Upper  California.  There  is  no  (piestion 
that  sheep  might  be  raised  to  any  extent,  in  a  climate  so  dry  and  sulU- 
ciently  warm,  where  very  little  snow  or  rains  falls.  It  is  also,  I  think,  the 
ihealthiest  country  I  have  ever  been  in,  which,  I  suppose,  arises  from  the 
small  quantity  of  decaying  vegetable  matter,  and  there  being  no  obstruc- 
tion from  timber  to  the  passing  winds." 

XIV.  The  third  and  last  natural  division  of  Oregon  is  the  high  country^ 
included  between  the  Blue  Mountains  on  the  west  and  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains on  the  east.  The  southern  part  of  this  region  is  a  desert,  of  steep 
rocky  mountains,  deep  narrow  valleys,  called  ho/eshy  the  fur-traders,  and 
wide  plains,  covered  with  sand  or  gravel,  generally  volcanic,  which  can 
never  be  rendered  capable  of  supporting  more  than  a  very  small  number 
of  inhabitants.  The  distinguishing  features  of  this  territory  are,  its  ex- 
treme dryness^  and  tke  great  dijfereuce  in  temperature  betvwen  the  day  and 
the  night.  It  seldom  rr'ns,  except  during  a  few  days  in  the  spring;  there 
is  little  snow  in  the  valleys  in  winter,  though  a  great  deal  falls  occasion- 
ally on  the  mountain  tops ;  and  no  moisture  is  deposited  in  dews.  Mr. 
Wyeth  saw  the  thermometer,  on  the  banks  of  Snake  River,  in  August, 
1832,  mark  eighteen  degrees  of  Fahrenheit  at  sunrise,  and  ninety-two 
degrees  at  noon  ot  the  same  day ;  and  he  says  that  a  difference  of  forty 
degrees  between  sunrise  and  noon  is  not  uncommon.  Such  circum- 
stances are  alojiie  sulficient  to  render  any  attempts  at  cultivation  in  this 
region  entirely  fruitless;  and  a  great  portion  of  the  surface  is  moreover  so 
strongly  impregnated  with  salts  of  various  kinds,  that  plants  could  not  flou- 
rish in  it,  even  were  a  sufficiency  of  heat  and  moisture  regularly  siipplied. 

In  this  region,  nevertheless,  are  situated  the  sources  of  all  the  principal 
branches  of  the  Columbia,  the  northernmost  of  which  rises  near  the  54th 
parallel,  and  the  southernmost  near  the  42d;  they,  of  course,  receive  their 
waters  from  the  mountains,  as  very  little  can  be  furnished  by  the  valleys. 
There  are  also  many  lakes  in  this  part  of  America,  some  of  which  commu- 
nicate with  the  Columbia ;  the  others  have  no  outlets,  and  their  waters  are 
therefore  necessarily  salt.*    The  largest  of  these  collections  of  salt  water, 

♦  vyhenever  water  runs  on  or  through  the  earth,  it  finds  salts,  which  it  dissolves,  and  carries 
with  itself  to  its  recipient.  If  that  renpient  have  no  outlet  either  above  or  under  the  surface  of 
the  earth,  by  which  it  coinmuiucaies  with  some  lower  recipient,  and  thus  its  waters  are  not 
taken  from  it  except  by  evapoiation,  the  salt  cairied  into  it  by  streams  must  necessarily  be 
coiisianily  accumiilatina  there,  as  evnporation  does  not  abstract  a  single  sa'ine  particle.  If  the 
facts  her>;  staled  be  admitted  as  true,  the  deductions  cannot  be  denied;  and  it  is  believed  that 
no  case  can  be  cited  in  contradiction  ot  either.  In  like  manner,  the  surfaces  of  gieat  plains  or 
yall  ys,  'rom  w'hich  the  water  is  not  carried  off  either  by  streams  or  by  infiltration,  are  always 
imnregmted  with  salt.  Of  this,  the  high  plains  of  Mexico,  and  the  valleys  immediately  west 
of  the  Rocky  Mountain.s,  offer  examples;  the  soil  o(  the  parts  not  regularly  drained  being  so 
salt  ns  t(  render  vegetation  impossible,  C/en  where  all  the  other  requisites  are  furnished  ia 
abnn(lanc>\  The  reverse  is  not  always  true ;  nevertheless,  the  saltness  of  a  lame  body  of  water, 
or  of  a  lane  extent  of  ground,  affords  strong  reasons  for  suspecting  that  there  is  no  regular 
drain  from  a  into  a  lower  recipient. 


it 


r 


k*    n 


h 


18 


is  that  called  by  the  Indians  La/ceYouta,  and  represented  on  the  old 
Spanish  maps  as  Lake  Timpanosfos,  situated  in  one  of  the  valleys  or  hoi- 
lows  produced  by  the  interlocking  of  the  Snowy  Mountains  with  the  other 
chains,  near  the  Rocky  Mountains.  Very  little  is  known  as  to  the  extent 
and  position  of  this  lake,  except  that  it  is  very  large,  that  it  is  surrounded 
bv  high  mountains,  and  that  it  receives  on  its  northern  side  a  considera- 
ble stream,  called  the  Hear  River.  Captain  Wyeth  places  its  northern 
extremity  in  latitude  of  42  degrees  3  minutes.  In  one  of  the  maps  at- 
tached to  Mr.  Irving's  account  of  Captain  Bonneville's  Adventures  in  the 
Far  West,  that  point  is  represented  under  the  parallel  of  42  decrees  60  min- 
utes ',  while  in  the  other  map  illustrating  the  same  work,  it  is  placed  still 
farther  north  by  half  a  degree.  In  the  map  annexed  to  this  memoir.  Lake 
Youta  is  made  to  extend  from  40^  to  41^  degrees,  on  the  authority  of 
Arrowsmith;  which  position  appears  more  conformable  than  any  other 
with  the  best  accounts. 

The  northern  part  of  the  upper  region  about  the  Clarke  River  is  less 
barren  than  that  which  has  been  just  described ;  the  valleys  are  wider,  the 
rains  more  frequent,  and  the  soil  is  freed  from  salt  by  the  numerous  streams 
which  traverse  it. 

The  country  cast  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  for  more  than  two  hundred 
miles,  is  almost  as  dry  and  barren  as  that  immediately  on  the  western 
side ;  offering  no  means  of  support  for  a  population,  except  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  rivers,  which  flow  through  it  from  the  great  chain  into  the  Missis- 
sippi. The  interposition  of  this  wide  desert-tract  between  the  productive 
regions  of  the  Mississippi  and  those  of  the  Columbia,  must  retard  the  set- 
tlement of  the  latter  countries,  and  exercise  a  powerful  influence  over 
their  political  destinies. 

XV.  The  Columbia  River  now  remains  to  be  particularly  noticed,  and 
it  will  be  traced  from  the  sources  of  its  principal  confluents  to  the  ocean. 

The  northernmost  stream  of  the  Columbia  is  Canoe  River,  which  rises 
near  the  54th  degree  of  latitude,  and  near  the  62d  is  joined  by  two  other 
streams,  at  a  place  called  by  the  fur-traders  Boat  Encampment.  Of  the 
two  streams  which  join  Canoe  River,  one  flows  from  the  south  along  the 
base  of  the  Rocky  Mountains ;  the  other  rises  in  a  great  gorge  of  that  chain, 
under  the  parallel  of  53  degrees,  its  head  being  a  small  lake,  within  a  few 
feet  of  which  is  another,  whence  the  waters  run  into  the  Athabasca,  one  of 
the  branches  of  the  Mackenzie.  Of  this  gorge.  Cox  says :  "The  country 
around  our  encampment  presented  the  wildest  and  most  terrific  appear- 
ance of  desolation.  The  sun,  shining  on  a  range  of  stupendous  glaciers, 
threw  a  chilling  brightness  over  the  chaotic  mass  of  rocks,  ice,  and  snow, 
by  which  we  were  environed.  Close  to  our  encampment,  one  gigantic 
mountain,  of  conical  form,  towered  majestically  into  the  clouds,  far  above 
the  others;  while  at  intervals,  the  interest  of  the  scene  was  heightened  by 
the  rumbling  noise  of  a  descending  avalanche."  The  ground  about  this 
spot  is  higher  than  any  other  in  North  America,  and  probably  on  the 
whole  western  continent. 

After  a  course  of  about  two  hundred  miles  due  south  from  the  point  of 
union  of  the  three  streams  above  mentioned,  the  Columbia  receives  Mac- 
gillivray^s  River,  and  a  little  lower  down  Clarke's,  or  the  Flathead.  River, 
both  flowing  from  the  Rocky  Mountains.  Clarke's  river  is  nearly  as  largo 
as  the  Columbia,  above  the  place  of  their  junction ;  its  sources  are  situa> 
ted  within  a  short  distance  of  those  of  the  Missouri,  and,  as  the  interven- 


ing ridge 
of  comm 
tinnnt. 
long  and 
by  lofty 
The  t 
before  th 
the  Kettl 
latitude  o 
cipul  estu 
which  is 
potatoes, 
river  flov 
east,  abo 
large  str 
another  i 
Astoria, 
south  to 
or  Snak< 
traced  fr< 

The 

Rocky  ai 

near  the 

Missouri 

tains  to 

the  43d 

It  then  i 

on  its  wi 

koosee,  oi 

and  Pou 

each  sid 

the  partji 

at  the  n 

picted  bi 

TheC 

the  Wall 

the  sout 

Pacific, 

walla  is 

Compan 

Below  tl 

before  e 

impassa 

Five  mi 

through 

by  basal 

Cascadt 

I    the  foot 

7:    more  th 

I    five  mil 

^        At  tl 

1    north  s 


19 


nted  on  the  old 
e  valloys  or  hoi- 
IS  with  the  other 

as  to  the  extent 
it  is  surrounded 
side  a  considera- 
oes  Its  northern 
of  the  maps  nt- 
dventures  m  the 

decrees  60  min- 
,  it  is  placed  still 
is  memoir,  Lake 
the  authority  of 

than  any  other 

ke  River  is  less 
rs  are  wider,  the 
imerous  streams 

m  two  hundred 
on  the  western 
t  in  the  vicinity 
into  the  Missis- 
1  the  productive 
It  retard  the  set- 
influence  over 

rly  noticed,  and 
s  to  the  ocean. 
wr,  which  rises 
id  by  two  other 
iment.  Of  the 
south  along  the 
[e  of  that  chain, 
e,  within  a  few 
habasca,  one  of 
"  The  country 
terrific  appear- 
ndous  glaciers, 
ice,  and  snow, 
t,  one  gigantic 
Duds,  far  above 
heightened  by 
und  about  this 
robably  on  the 

)m  the  point  of 
.  receives  Mac- 
^lathead  River  ^ 
nearly  as  largo 
irces  are  situa> 
s  the  interven- 


ing ridge  is  not  very  high,  it  will  doubtless  form  one  of  the  groat  channels 
of  communication  botwcon  the  eastern  and  the  western  sides  of  the  con- 
tinent. In  its  course  it  spreads  out  into  a  Inko,  about  tliirty-fivo  miles 
long  and  five  or  six  broad,  which  is  situated  in  a  rich  villcy,  surrounded 
by  lofty  snow-clad  mountains. 

The  Clarke  rushes  down  into  the  Columbia,  over  a  ledge  of  rocks,  a  little 
before  the  passage  of  the  latter  through  the  Blue  Moiuitains,  where  it  forms 
the  Kettle  fhlLs.  Just  below  these  fulls,  on  the  south  side  of  the  river,  in 
latitude  of  48  degrees  37  minutes,  is  situated  Ihrt  Colville^  one  of  the  prin- 
cipal establishments  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company;  the  country  around 
which  is  fertile  and  agreeable,  producing  wheat,  barley,  oats,  Indian  corn, 
potatoes,  peas,  and  various  garden  vegetables,  in  abundance.  Thence  the 
river  flows  due  west,  receiving  in  its  course  the  l^pokan  from  the  jouth- 
east,  about  one  hundred  miles,  to  Us  junction  with  the  Okanagan^  a 
large  stream  from  the  north,  where  the  Hiu'son's  Bay  Company  have 
another  fort,  called  Fort  Okatinffan.  This  place  was  first  occupied  by  the 
Astoria,  or  Pacifi''  Fur  Company,  in  1811;  from  it  the  Columbia  runs 
south  to  the  latitude  oi  46  degrees  8  minutes,  and  there  joins  the  Lewis, 
or  Snake,  the  great  south  branch  of  which  will  now  be  in  like  manner 
traced  from  its  sources. 

The  head-waters  of  the  Lewis  River  are  in  the  angle  formed  by  the 
Rocky  and  the  Snowy  Mountains,  between  the42d  and  the  44th  degrees, 
near  the  sources  of  the  Colorado,  the  Platte,  the  Yellow  Stone,  and  the 
Missouri.  Thence  it  flows  westward  along  the  foot  of  the  Snowy  Moun  • 
tains  to  the  Blue  Mountains,  through  one  ridge  of  which  it  passes  near 
the  43d  degree  of  latitude,  making  there  the  Safmrm,  or  Fishivg  Falls. 
It  then  runs  northwestward  to  its  junction  with  the  Columbia,  receiving 
on  its  way  the  MaladCf  the  Wapticacos,  or  north  branch,  and  the  Koos- 
koosee^  or  Salmon  River,  from  the  east,  and  the  A/alhevr,  the  Burnt  River, 
and  Powder  River  from  the  west,  besides  numerous  smaller  streams  on 
each  side.  The  Salmon  River  is  believed  to  be  that  on  and  near  which 
the  party  sent  from  the  United  States,  in  1811,  to  form  an  establishment 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia,  experienced  the  dreadful  sufierings  de- 
picted by  Mr.  Irving  in  his  Astoria. 

The  Columbia,  below  the  junction  of  its  two  great  branches,  receives 
the  Walla-walla,  the  Urnatalla,  John  Day^s  River,  and  the  fhlls  River  firom 
the  south,  and  then  passes  through  the  range  of  mountains  nearest  the 
Pacific,  under  the  46th  parallel  of  latitude.  At  the  mouth  of  the  Walla- 
walla  is  Fort  WaUa-walla,  or  Nezpercis,  belonging  to  the  Hudson's  Bay 
Company,  near  which  is  some  land  tolerably  well  adapted  for  cultivation. 
Below  this  river  the  Columbia  descends  considerably,  forming  many  rapids 
before  entering  the  mountains.  The  Fhlls  are  represented  by  Wyeth  as 
impassable  at  low  water,  but  passable  at  high  water  both  up  and  down. 
Five  miles  beloM'  them  are  the  Dalles,  or  narrows,  where  the  river  rushes 
through  a  space  not  more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  wide,  walled  in 
by  basaltic  columns  on  both  sides ;  and  thirty- six  miles  lower,  are  the 
Cascades,  which  are  falls  impassable  at  all  times.  The  tide  comes  up  to 
the  foot  of  the  cascades,  and  the  navigation  is  good  for  vessels  drawing  not 
more  than  fourteen  feet  to  this  point,  which  is  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  miles  from  the  ocean. 

At  the  distance  of  about  one  hundred  miles  from  the  Pacific,  on  the 
north  side  of  the  Columbia,  and  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  it,  stands  Fort 


If 

i: 


'A\ 


.  ''>'■  > 


'  i 


:n 


»■ 


w 

Vancouver,  the  principal  establishment  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company 
west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  It-consists  of  a  number  of  wooden  build- 
ings within  a  stockade,  serving  as  dwelling-houses,  stores,  magazines, 
and  workshops ;  and  near  it  are  other  small  buildings  inhabited  by  the 
laborers,  together  with  a  saw-mill  and  grist-mill.  The  whole  number  of 
residents  at  the  place  is  about  eight  hundred,  of  whom  a  large  proportion 
are  Indians  or  half-breeds.  Several  hundred  acres  of  land  near  the  fort 
are  under  cultivation,  producing  wheat,  barley,  oats,  pease,  potatoes,  «fcc., 
in  abundance;  and  the  stock  of  cattle  is  also  considerable. 

The  Multononmh,  or  Walla/net,  enters  the  Columbia  in  the  south, 
about  twenty  miles  below  Vancouver.  It  is  navigable  for  small  vessels 
to  the  distance  of  twenty  miles  from  its  mouth— or,  rather,  from  its 
mouths,  for  it  divides  into  two  branches  before  entering  the  Columbia, 
and  thus  forms  a  long  narrow  island,  on  which  Captain  Wyeth  endeav- 
ored unsuccessfully  to  establish  an  American  trading-factory  in  1835. 
At  the  head  of  the  navigation  is  a  fall,  where  the  river  crosses  a  ridge  of 
hills ;  before  reaching  which,  it  flows  through  prairies  of  the  richest 
ground,  varying  in  breadth  from  a  few  feet  to  several  miles.  In  this  de- 
lightful valley  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  have  formed  a  settlement  for 
its  retiring  servants ;  and  another  has  been  made  by  American  citizens, 
under  the  direction  of  Methodist  missionaries,  which  is  said  to  be  in  a 
prosperous  condition.  A  large  body  of  emigrants  to  this  place  sailed  from 
New  York  in  the  latter  part  of  1839 ;  and  other  persons  are  said  to  be 
now  in  that  city  preparing  for  their  departure  for  the  same  poini,. 

Astoria,  the  first  settlement  made  on  the  Columbia  by  the  Americans 
in  1811,  is  on  the  south  side  of  the  river,  eight  miles  from  its  mouth; 
it  consists  at  present  of  only  a  single  house,  occupied  by  the  Hudson's 
Bay  Company,  and  called  Fort  George. 

The  Columbia,  twenty-five  miles  from  the  sea,  varies  in  width  from 
seven  miles  to  one,  and  that  part  of  the  river  has  been,  in  consequence, 
sometimes  considered  as  a  bay  or  inlet ;  this  view  is,  however,  contradict- 
ed by  the  fact,  that  the  water  continues  to  be  fresh  and  potable  to  the 
immediate  vicinity  of  the  Pacific,  except  when  the  stream  is  very  low,  or 
the  wind  has  long  blown  violently  from  the  west.  The  river  enters  the  Pa" 
cific  between  two  points  of  land :  one,  on  the  north,  called  Cape  Disap- 
pointtncnt,  or  Cape  Hancock,  in  latitude  of  46  degrees  18  minutes;  the 
other,  called  Point  Adams,  being  seven  miles  southeast  from  the  former. 
From  each  of  these  points  a  sand-bar  runs  into  the  water ;  above  which 
the  waves  of  the  Pacific,  on  the  one  side,  and  the  torrents  of  the  Colum- 
bia, on  the  other,  meet  with  terrific  violence,  producing  a  most  formida- 
ble line  of  breakers.  These  circumstances  render  the  entrance  and  de- 
parture of  vessels  hazardous  at  all  times,  and  almost  impossible  when 
the  winds  are  high.  The  depth  of  the  water,  between  the  bars,  is  thirty 
feet  at  the  lowest ;  no  vessel  drawing  more  than  fourteen  feet  can,  how- 
ever, proceed  far  up  the  river,  on  account  of  the  irregularities  of  the 
channel. 

This  river,  like  the  others  in  Northwest  America,  abounds  in  fish,  partic- 
ularly in  salmon,  which  ascend  all  its  branches  up  to  the  Blue  Mountmns, 
and  form  the  principal  means  of  subsistence  for  the  natives  of  the  first  and 
middle  regions.  Of  those  natives,  the  lunits  of  the  present  sketch  do  not 
admit  a  detailed  description ;  they  are  supposed  to  be  in  number  about 
twenty  thousand,  all  savages  incapable  of  civilization. 


NORT 


Preliminary 
coasts  of '. 
covery  of 
fornia — E 
lions  of  C 
direct  int 
Drake  to  i 

The  tc 

the  Atlar 

in  the  in 

which  w 

earth  was 

it  really  i 

of  Europ 

,  er  than  a 

•  speedily  i 

It  was 

i  ted  Span 

I  celebrate( 

I  by  Pope  i 

'  to  make  i 

eastern  r< 

gal;  whi 

control  { 

%  those  coi 

I  portant  t 

settled  b 

under  tt 

among  c 

ueditsr 


iV, 


s  Bay  Company 
>f  wooden  build- 
)res,  magazines, 
inhabited  by  the 
vhole  number  of 
large  proportion 
nd  near  the  fort 
e,  potatoes,  «fec., 

1  in  the  south, 
for  small  vessels 
rather,  from  its 
',  the  Columbia, 
Wyeth  endeav- 
actory  in  1835. 
rosses  a  ridge  of 
!  of  the  richest 
es.  In  this  de- 
a  settlement  for 
lerican  citizens, 

said  to  be  in  a 
)lace  sailed  from 

are  said  to  be 
I  point. 

'  the  Americans 
'om  its  mouth; 
y  the  Hudson's 

in  width  from 

1  consequence, 

iver,  contradict- 

potable  to  the 

is  very  low,  or 

r  enters  the  Pa^ 

id  Cape  Disap- 

minutes;  the 

lom  the  former. 

above  which 

of  the  Colura- 

most  formida- 

itrance  and  de- 

ipossible  when 

3  bars,  is  thirty 

feet  can,  how- 

ilarities  of  the 

in  fish,  partic- 
lue  Mountains, 
of  the  first  and 
;  sketch  do  not 

number  about 


m 


MEMOIR, 


HISTORICAL  AND  POLITICAL, 

(  ON  THE 

NORTHWEST  COAST  OF  NORTH  AMERICA, 

AND 

A  THE     ADJACENT     TERRITORIES. 

I 


CHAPTER  I. 


Preliminary  observations — Early  attempts  of  the  Spaniards  to  explore  the  westerr^ 
coasts  of  North  America — Voyages  made  by  authority  of  Heman  Cortes — Dis- 
covery of  California  by  Becerra,  in  1535— Voyage  of  Cortes  in  the  Gulf  of  Cali- 
fornia — Discovery  ot  the  west  coast  of  California  by  Ulloa,  in  1539 — Expedi- 
tions of  Ccronado  and  Alarcon — Voyage  of  Cabrillo,  in  1542 — Establishment  ef 
direct  intercourse  by  the  Pacific,  between  Mexico  and  India — Visit  of  Francis 
Drake  to  the  northwest  coast  in  1579. 

The  territories  first  seen  by  Europeans  on  the  western  side  of 
the  Atlantic  were  naturally  supposed  to  be  parts  of  Asia,  or  to  lie 
in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  that  continent,  the  eastern  limits  of 
which  were  then  unknown ;  and,  as  the  circumference  of  the 
earth  was  moreover,  at  that  time,  considered  to  be  much  less  than 
it  really  is,  hopes  were  entertained  among  the  maritime  nations 
of  Europe  that  some  route  for  their  ships  to  India,  safer  and  short- 
er than  any  around  the  southern  extremity  of  Africa,  would  be 
speedily  discovered. 

It  was  under  the  influence  of  such  expectations  that  \\\e  uni- 
ted Spanish  Sovereigns  concluded  with  the  King  of  Portugal  the 
celebrated  Treaty  of  Partition,  founded  on  the  bull  issued  in  1494, 
by  Pope  Alexander  VI.  Agreeably  to  this  treaty,  the  Spaniards  were 
I  to  make  no  attempts  to  communicate  with  India  by  sea  through 
;!  eastern  routes,  which  became  in  a  manner  the  property  of  Portu- 
l  gal ;  while,  on  the  other  hand,  they  were  to  possess  exclusive 
I  control  and  use  of  every  western  channel  of  intercourse  with 
I  those  countries,  which  might  be  discovered.    This  and  other  im- 
portant questions  of  jurisdiction  having  been  thus  definitively 
settled  between   the  two  greatest  maritime  Powers  of  Europe, 
under  the  guaranty  of  the  highest  authority  then  recognised 
among  civilized  nations,  each  of  the  parties  to  the  treaty  contin-^ 
ued  its  researches  within  the  limits  assigned  to  it. 
8 


I)' 


i;i  i 


1493. 


1495. 


i ,  ■ 


.^,1 


S3 


''*  'fl 


1499. 


1513. 


¥: 


i':     ^ 


151!). 


1520. 


\t 


151': 

i&j;j 


In  these  examinations,  the  Portuguese  were  the  most  success- 
ftil.  They  soon  found  their  way  by  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  to 
India,  where  they  firmly  established  their  preeminence;  while 
the  Spaniards  were  vainly  exploring  the  Atlantic  coasts  of  the 
New  World,  in  search  of  some  opening  through  which  they  might 
penetrate  with  their  ships  into  the  ocean  bathing  the  southern 
side  of  Asia.  At  length,  in  1513,  Vasco  Nunez  de  Balboa,  the 
Governor  of  the  Spanish  colony  of  Darien,on  the  Atlantic,  after  a 
short  march  across  the  mountains  overlooking  that  place,  arrived 
on  the  shore  of  a  sea,  which  was  supposed  to  be  no  other  than 
the  long-sought  Southern  ocean  ;  and,  as  the  proximity  of  this 
sea  to  the  Atlantic  was  at  the  same  time  demonstrated,  farther  en- 
couragement was  afforded  for  the  hope  that  the  two  great  waters 
would  be  found  united  in  a  position  the  most  favorable  for  the 
prosecution  of  the  desired  objects.  The  researches  of  the  Span- 
iards were,  in  consequence,  directed  particularly  towards  the  isth- 
mus of  Darien ;  and  were  conducted  with  zeal,  until  the  fact  of 
the  entire  separation  of  the  oceans  in  that  quarter  was  deter- 
mined. 

In  the  mean  time,  however,  Fernando  Magalhaens,  or  Magel- 
lan, a  Portuguese  in  the  service  of  Spain,  discovered  the  strait 
which  has  ever  since  borne  his  name,  and,  having  passed  through 
it  with  his  ships,  continued  his  voyage  westward  to  India.  Tho 
grand  geographical  question,  as  to  the  possibility  of  circumnaviga- 
ting the  earth,  was  thus  solved ;  but  not  in  a  manner  satisfactory- 
to  the  Spaniards.  The  strait  of  Magellan  was  intricate,  and  be- 
set by  dangers  of  every  kind ;  and  it  was  itself  almost  as  distant 
from  Europe  as  India  by  the  eastern  route.  Moreover,  the  sea  in- 
tervening between  the  new  continent  and  Asia  proved  to  be 
much  wider  than  had  been  supposed ;  and,  in  every  part  of  it, 
which  was  traversed  by  vessels  for  many  years  after  its  discovery, 
the  winds  were  found  to  blow  constantly  from  eastern  points. 
These  circumstances,  as  they  successively  became  known,  con- 
tributed to  depress  the  hopes  of  the  Spaniards,  with  regard  to  the 
establishment  of  their  dominion  in  India ;  other  events,  however, 
occurred  at  the  same  time,  which  consoled  them  in  part  for  the 
disappointment,  and  fixed  their  attention  upon  the  New  World. 

While  Magellan's  voyage  was  in  progress,  the  rich  and  popu- 
lous empire  of  Mexico  was  discovered,  and  it  was  soon  after  con- 
quered by  the  Spaniards,  under  Hernan  Cortes.  Within  the  en- 
suing ten  years  Peru  and  Chili  were  likewise  subjected  to  the 
authority  of  the  Spanish  monarch ;  and  the  silver  of  America  be- 
gan to  be  considered  as  ample  compensation  for  the  loss  of  the 
spices  and  diamonds  of  India.  The  brilliant  results  of  these  ex- 
traordinary enterprises  attracted  fi-om  Europe  crowds  of  adventu- 
rers, all  eager  to  acquire  wealth  and  distinction  by  similar  means, 
who,  uniting  in  bands  under  daring  leaders,  traversed  the  new 
continent  in  various  directions,  seeking  rich  nations  to  plunder. 
Fortunately  for  the  cause  of  humanity,  these  expeditions  were 
fruitless,  so  &ir  at  least  as  regards  the  object  for  which  they  were 
undertaken ;  on  the  other  hand,  much  information  was  speedily 
acquired  by  means  of  them,  respecting  the  geography  of  coasts 


h 


and  regi( 
haps,  for 

Amonj 
to  discoi 
tween  th 
severing 
tablishm 
menced 
tries ;  in 
of  his  ti 
period  of 
plans, th 
connect! 
until  it 
those  ten 
land  thro 
been  accc 
his  attent 

At  that 
in  the  Ai 
situated 
within  a 
liacan,  a 
Gulf  of  C 
both  in  . 
of  the  co]^ 
Its  easterr 

It  shou 
scended  t< 
century, s 
od,  are  vei 
Seldom,  i 
descriptio 
place,  fi:o 
\vritten  b 
matters,  \i 
the  next ] 
mining  tl 
were  so  ir 
made  witl 
of  atmosp 
j  at  sea,  wl 
not  absol 
causes  of 
calculatio 
stances,  s 
*  that  the  s 
[  tioned,  ar 
!  are  at  be: 


le  most  success - 
f  Good  Hope  to 
minence;  while 
ic  coasts  of  the 
hich  they  might 
ig  the  southern 
:  de  Balboa,  the 
Atlantic,  after  a 
at  place,  arrived 
e  no  other  than 
roximity  of  this 
•ated,  farther  en- 
wo  great  waters 
avorable  for  the 
les  of  the  Span- 
awards  the  isth- 
iintil  the  fact  of 
irter  was  deter- 

laens,  or  Magel- 
vered  the  strait 
\  passed  through 
[  to  India,    Tho 
•f  circumnaviga- 
iner  satisfactorj^ 
[itricate,  and  be- 
Imost  as  distant 
)ver,  the  sea  in- 
proved  to  be 
every  part  of  it, 
er  its  discovery, 
eastern  points. 
;ie  known,  cou- 
th regard  to  the 
vents,  however, 
in  part  for  the 
New  World, 
rich  and  popu- 
soon  after  con- 
Within  the  en- 
ibjected  to  the 
of  America  be- 
the  loss  of  the 
Its  of  these  ex- 
ds  of  adventu- 
similar  means, 
^ersed  the  new 
)ns  to  plunder, 
peditions  were 
lich  they  were 
1  was  speedily 
aphy  of  coasts 


23 

iand  regions,  which  would  not  otherwise  have  been  explored,  per- 
haps, for  centuries. 

Among  those  who  were  at  this  period  engaged  in  endeavoring 
to  discover  new  kingdoms  in  America,  and  new  passages  be- 
tween the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  oceans,  the  most  zealous  and  per- 
severing was  Hernan  Cortes.  Scarcely  'had  he  effected  the  es- 
tablishment of  the  Spanish  authority  in  Mexico,  ere  he  com- 
menced preparations  for  exploring  the  adjacent  seas  and  coun- 
tries ;  in  expeditions  of  which  nature  he  employed  a  great  portion 
of  his  time,  as  well  as  of  his  private  fortune,  during  the  whole 
period  of  his  residence  in  that  kingdom.  In  prosecution  of  his 
plans,  the  interior,  as  well  as  the  coasts  on  both  sides  of  the  region 
connecting  Mexico  with  South  America,  were  minutely  explored, 
until  it  had  been  ascertained  that  no  wealthy  nations  occupied 
those  territories,  and  that  the  two  seas  were  entirely  separated  by 
land  throughout  the  whole  extent.  This  arduous  task  having 
been  accomplished,  the  enterprising  conqueror  of  Mexico  directed 
his  attention  towards  the  northwest. 

At  that  period,  the  most  northern  settlements  of  the  Spaniards 
in  the  American  continent  were :  on  the  Atlantic  side,  Panuco, 
situated  near  the  spot  now  occupied  by  the  town  of  Tampico, 
within  a  few  miles  of  the  Mexican  Gulf;  and,  on  the  Pacific,  Cu- 
liacan,  a  small  place  near  the  eastern  side  of  the  entrance  to  the 
Gulf  of  California.  Northward  of  these  settlements,  which  were 
both  in  the  vicinity  of  the  tropic  of  Cancer,  nothing  was  known 
of  the  contm  nt,  except  with  regard  to  some  isolated  portions  of 
Its  eastern 

It  should  ■.('■>■■.  8  observed,  that  the  accounts  which  have  de- 
scended to  us  01  all  voyages  performed  before  the  middle  of  the  last 
century,  and  of  all  Spanish  voyages  to  a  much  more  recent  peri- 
od, are  very  defective,  especially  as  regards  geographical  positions. 
Seldom,  indeed,  is  it  possible  to  identify  a  spot  by  means  of  the 
descriptions  contained  in  those  accounts.  This  arises,  in  the  first 
place,  from  the  circumstance  that  such  narratives  were  usually 
^v^itten  by  priests,  or  other  persons  unacquainted  with  nautical 
matters,  who  paid  little  attention  to  latitudes  and  bearings.  In 
the  next  place,  the  instruments  employed  in  those  days  for  deter- 
mining the  altitudes  and  relative  distances  of  heavenly  bodies 
were  so  imperfect,  bo ii:  in  plan  and  in  execution,  that  observations 
,  made  with  them  on  land,  and  under  the  most  favorable  conditions 
of  atmosphere,  led  to  results  which  were  far  from  accurate;  while 
at  sea,  when  there  was  much  motion  in  the  vessel,  or  the  air  was 
not  absolutely  clear,  those  instruments  were  useless.  To  these 
causes  of  error  are  to  be  added  the  want  of  proper  methods  of 
,  calculation,  as  well  as  of  knowledge  of  various  modifying  circum- 
I  stances,  such  as  refraction,  aberration,  &c.  Hence,  it  followed 
that  the  statements  of  latitude,  given  in  the  accounts  above  men- 
tioned, are  of  little  value  as  indicating  the  positions  of  places,  and 
are  at  best  only  approximative ;  while  those  of  longitude,  being, 


*  Letter  of  Cortes  to  Charles  V.,  written  from  Mexico,  in  1533. 


1517 

10 

1332. 


iff 


i 


!  I!  ' 


(f 


<l! 


I* 


■.1 


m 


24 

1531.  when  given  at  all,  deduced  merely  from  the  notes  of  the  vessel's 
course  and  rate  of  sailing,  are  entirely  worthless.  It  is  scarcely 
necessary  to  add  that  this  uncertainty  as  to  the  geographical  sit- 
uations of  places  produced  confusion  with  regard  to  names; 
and,  accordingly,  we  find  that  there  are  few  remarkable  spots  on 
the  northwest  coast  of  America,  discovered  before  the  middle  of 
the  last  century,  which  have  not  at  different  times  been  distin- 
guished by  many  different  appellations. 

Respecting  the  voyages  of  discovery,  made  by  order  of  Cortes 
in  the  Atlantic  seas,  little  is  to  be  found  on  record ;  and  no  notice 
of  them  is  required  for  our  present  purposes.  The  first  expedition, 
under  his  auspices,  towards  the  northwest,  took  place  in  1532, 
and  terminated  most  disastrously. 

1532.  This  expedition  was  commanded  by  Diego  Hurtado  de  Men- 
doza,  a  relation  of  Cortes,  who  sailed  from  Acapulco  in  a  small 
ship,  accompanied  by  another  under  Juan  de  Mazuela;  they 
advanced  together  along  the  southwest  coast  of  Mexico,  as  far 
north  as  the  27th  degree  of  latitude,  and  were  there  separated  by 
a  storm :  after  which  nothing  more  was  heard  of  the  vessel  com- 
manded by  Mendoza.  The  other  ship,  under  Mazuela,  was  ob- 
liged, after  the  storm,  to  put  back  to  the  river  of  Culiacau,  the 
nearest  Spanish  port,  where  she  was  deserted  by  the  greater  part 
of  her  crew.  Those  who  remained  then  endeavored  to  carry  her 
to  Acapulco ;  but  she  was  stranded  on  the  shore  of  the  province 
of  Jalisco,  near  the  place  where  San  Bias  now  stands;  and  her 
crew,  with  the  exception  of  three,  were  murdered  by  the  savages. 
The  vessel  was  subsequently  seized  and  rifled  by  Nuiio  de  Guz- 
man, the  chief  of  a  roving  band  of  adventurers,  who,  assuming 
the  title  of  Governor  of  Jalisco,  pretended  to  act  for  the  Sovereign 
of  Spain,  independently  of  Cortes. 

1533.  A  year  having  elapsed  after  the  departure  of  these  vessels,  with- 
out any  news  being  received  of  them,  Cortes  despatched  two 
others  in  the  seime  direction,  under  Hernando  de  Grijalva  and 
Diego  de  Becerra,  who  sailed  together  from  Tehuantepec  on  the 
30th  of  October,  1533. 

Grijalva,  being  soon  separated  from  his  companion,  took  a  west- 
ward course,  and  reached  a  group  of  small  islands  at  the  distance 
of  a  hundred  and  fifty  miles  from  the  main  land,  (now  called  the 
Revillagigedo  islands.;)  after  which  he  returned  to  Mexico,  with- 
out having  effected  any  other  discovery. 

Meanwhile,  Becerra,  likewise  sailing  westward  from  Tehuan- 
tepec, found  land  almost  immediately  under  the  tropic  of  Cancer, 
and  anchored  in  a  small  bay,  where  his  men,  having  obtained 
some  valuable  pearls,  became  anxious  to  fix  themselves  for  a  time. 
This  Becerra  refiised  to  permit ;  and  he  was  preparing  to  continue 
his  voyage,  when  a  mutiny  took  place,  in  the  course  of  which  he 
was  murdered,  and  the  command  was  assumed  by  Fortunio  Xim- 
enes,  the  pilot.  In  pursuance  of  their  plan,  the  mutineers  then 
landed,  and  began  to  construct  habitations  on  the  shore  of  the 
bay ;  but,  while  thus  engaged,  they  were  surprised  by  a  body  of 
savages,  who  killed  nearly  the  whole  of  them.  The  survivors 
escaped  with  the  vessel,  and  succeeded  in  nayigating  her  over  to 


the  little  pc 

,  also  seized 

I     It  may  I 

\  Becerra  w£ 

nia.     The 

sassination 

and  someti 

WhenC 

his  vessels 

diencia,  or 

cided  in  hi 

proved  ref 

the  conqu 

head  to  C 

lish  his  ai 

fled,  with 

joined  at  ( 

termined  t 

covered  b] 

pearls  and 

He  acco 

the  3d  of 

Cross,  agr 

bay  in  wh 

the  name 

the  count 

solemnly 

Spain,  pre 

colony  on 

took  his  d 

new  territ 

suring  hir 

tinent. 

Of  the 
California 
contradict 


pears 


ho) 


he  did  nc 
in  this  mj 
ger  of  de 
from  war 
where  he 
and  priva 
solved  to 
he  accord 
Francisco 
On  arri 
ed  that,  d 


25 


of  the  vessel's 
It  is  scarcely 
ographical  sit- 
rd  to  names; 
cable  spots  on 
the  middle  of 
s  been  distin- 

rder  of  Cortes 
and  no  notice 
rst  expedition, 
)Iace  in  1532, 

rtado  de  Men- 
Ico  in  a  small 
lazuela;  they 
Mexico,  as  far 
e  separated  by 
le  vessel  com- 
luela,  was  ob- 
Culiacan,  the 
le  greater  part 
;d  to  carry  her 
"  the  province 
inds;  and  her 
y  the  savages. 
Vufio  de  Guz- 
vho,  assuming 
the  Sovereign 

!  vessels,  with- 
espatched  two 
3  Grijalva  and 
antepec  on  the 

n,  took  a  west- 
at  the  distance 
now  called  the 
Mexico,  with- 

from  Tehuan- 
ipic  of  Cancer, 
ving  obtained 
Ives  for  a  time, 
ng  to  continue 
ie  of  which  he 
^ortunioXim- 
mtineers  then 
B  shore  of  the 
1  by  a  body  of 
rhe  survivors 
ng  her  over  to 


the  little  port  of  Ch\ametla,on  the  coast  of  Jalisco,  where  she  was     1533 
also  seized  by  the  lawless  Nufio  de  Guzman. 

It  may  be  mentioned,  at  once,  that  the  land  thus  discovered  by 
Becerra  was  the  southern  extremity  of  the  peninsula  of  Califor- 
nia. The  bay  in  which  his  ship  was  lying  at  the  time  of  his  as- 
sassination is  supposed  to  be  that  now  called  the  bay  of  La  Paz, 
and  sometimes  the  bay  of  San  Jose* 

When  Cortes  became  assured  of  the  seizure  and  spoliation  of  1534. 
his  vessels  by  Guzman,  he  prosecuted  that  person  before  the  Au- 
diencia,  or  royal  court  of  justice  of  Mexico,  which  immediately  de- 
cided in  his  favor.  The  pretended  Governor  of  Jalisco,  however, 
proved  refractory,  and  refused  to  make  restitution ;  whereupon, 
the  conqueror  assembled  a  body  of  troops,  and  marched  at  their 
head  to  Chiametla,  in  order  to  recover  his  vessels,  and  re-estab- 
lish his  authority  'n  that  country.  On  his  approach,  Guzman 
fled,  with  his  adherents,  to  the  interior ;  and  Cortes  having  been 
joined  at  Chiametla,  agreeably  to  his  orders,  by  three  vessels,  de- 
termined to  proceed  with  them  in  person  to  the  new  country  dis- 
covered by  Becerra  in  the  west,  which  was  said  to  be  so  rich  in 
pearls  and  precious  stones. 

He  accordingly  embarked  with  his  forces  at  Chiametla,  and  on  i53j. 
the  3d  of  May,  the  day  of  the  Inventioyi  or  Finding  of  the  Holy  April  15 
Cross,  agreeably  to  the  Roman  Catholic  calendar,  he  reached  the 
bay  in  which  Becerra  had  been  murdered.  In  honor  of  this  day, 
the  name  of  La  Santa  Cruz  (the  Holy  Cross)  was  bestowed  upon 
the  country,  as  well  as  on  the  bay ;  and  possession  having  been 
solemnly  taken  of  the  whole  in  the  name  of  the  Sovereign  of 
Spain,  preparations  were  commenced  for  the  establishment  of  a 
colony  on  the  spot.  These  arrangements  being  completed,  Cortes 
took  his  departure  with  two  vessels,  to  examine  the  coasts  of  the 
new  territory  towards  the  north  and  east,  for  the  purpose  of  as- 
suring himself  whether  or  not  it  was  united  to  the  American  con- 
tinent. 

Of  the  voyage  made  by  Cortes  in  the  arm  of  the  sea  between 
California  and  the  continent,  the  accounts  are  so  confused  and 
contradictory  that  it  is  impossible  to  ascertain  his  route.  It  ap- 
pears, however,  that,  although  he  crossed  this  sea  several  times, 
he  did  not  reach  its  northern  extremity.  After  some  time  spent 
in  this  manner,  during  which  his  vessels  were  frequently  in  dan- 
ger of  destruction  from  storms,  and  their  crews  were  suffering 
from  want  of  provisions,  he  at  length  returned  to  Santa  Cruz, 
where  he  found  the  colonists  in  the  utmost  distress  from  %mine 
and  privations  of  all  sorts.  Under  these  circumstances,  he  re- 
solved to  go  back  to  Mexico,  in  order  to  procure  supplies ;  which 
he  accordingly  did,  leaving  the  colony  in  charge  of  his  lieutenant, 
Francisco  de  Ulloa. 

On  arriving  at  Acapulco,  in  the  beginning  of  1536,  Cortes  learn-     153G. 
ed  that,  during  his  absence  from  Mexico,  he  had  been  superseded 


l!    i 


il 


i 


It; 


If 


•  The  accounts  of  these  voyages  are  derived  from  Herrera's  History  of  the  Span- 
ish Empire  in  America,  and  from  Navarrete's  Introduction  to  the  Journal  of  th.; 
voyage  of  the  Sutil  and  Mexicana. 


i  n  ' 


1536. 


1539. 

July  a 

Sept.  7. 


» 

1 


Oct.  18. 


Ill 

I      t'J 


m 


Oct. -29. 


Nov.  7. 


1540, 
Mar.  25. 


26 

in  the  government  of  that  country  by  Don  Antonio  de  Mendoza^ 
a  nobleman  of  high  rank,  who  had  already  made  his  entrance  into 
the  capital  as  Viceroy.  The  coiiqueror  thus  saw  himself,  in  a 
moment,  despoiled  oi  his  power,  in  the  territory  which  had  been, 
through  his  exertions,  added  to  tho  Spanish  dominions;  and  the 
blow  was  the  more  severe,  as  his  private  property  had  been  al- 
most entirely  expended  in  his  endeavors  to  make  new  discove- 
ries. He  was,  however,  not  to  be  depressed  by  these  difficulties ; 
and  as  he  still  possessed  the  right,  in  his  quality  of  Admiral  of  the 
South  Sea,  to  prepare  and  despatch  vessels  upon  the  Pacific,  he 
immediately  resolved  to  engage  in  another  expedition  towards  the 
northwest,  where  he  hoped  to  find  the  means  of  retrieving  his 
fortunes.  He  accordingly  recalled  Ulloa  and  the  colonists  from 
Santa  Cruz ;  and  having  with  difficulty  succeeded  in  raising  the 
necessary  funds,  he  equipped  three  ships  for  the  contemplated 
voyage,  which  was  not  commenced  until  1539. 

The  command  of  this  expedition  was  intrusted  to  Francisco  de 
Ulloa,  Cortes  being  obliged  to  remain  at  Mexico  in  order  to  at- 
tend to  some  important  suits  at  law,  in  which  he  had  become  in- 
volved. Ulloa  quitted  Acapulco  on  the  8th  of  July,  1539,  and, 
after  losing  one  of  his  ships  in  a  storm  near  the  coast  of  Culiacan, 
he  sailed  with  the  two  others  towards  the  west,  as  far  as  the  har- 
bor of  Santa  Cruz,  which,  as  well  as  the  surrounding  country, 
began  by  this  time  to  be  called  California.*  To  ascertain  the 
extent  of  this  country,  and  whether  it  was  connected  with  Amer- 
ica or  with  Asia,  or  was  detached  from  both  those  continents, 
were  the  first  objects  of  the  voyage  ;  in  pursuance  of  which,  the 
Spanish  navigator  directed  his  course  from  Santa  Cruz  northward, 
through  the  arm  of  the  ocean  separating  California  from  the  main 
land  of  Mexico  on  the  east.  In  this  course  he  proceeded,  exam- 
ining boih  shores,  until  he  had  convinced  himself  that  the  two 
teiTitories  were  united  near  the  33d  degree  of  latitude.  He  then 
returned  southward  to  Santa  Cruz,  through  the  same  arm  of  the 
ocean,  to  which  he  gave  the  appropriate  name  of  Mar  de  Cortes, 
(Sea  of  Cortes.)  This  great  gulf  has  since  received  a  variety  of 
appellations,  of  which  that  principally  used  by  the  Spaniards  is 
Mar  Vermejo,  (Vermillion  Sea.)  Among  all  other  nations,  it  is 
known  as  the  Gulf  of  California. 

Having  thus  ascertained  the  continuity  of  California  with  Amer- 
ica in  the  northeast,  Ulloa  next  proceeded  to  examine  the  western 
sides  of  the  new  country.  With  this  view,  he  sailed  from  the 
harbor  of  Santa  Cruz,  around  the  southern  extremity  of  the  land 
which  is  now  called  Cape  San  Lucas ;  thence  he  advanced  along 
the  coast,  northward,  struggling  almost  constantly  against  the  vi- 
olent northwest  winds  which  prevail  in  that  part  of  the  Pacific, 
until  he  reached  the  30th  degree  of  latitude.  By  the  time  of  his 
arrival  at  that  parallel,  many  of  the  men  in  both  vessels  were  dis- 
abled by  sickness,  and  the  stock  of  provisions  was  much  reduced ; 


*  With  regard  to  the  origin  or  the  signification  of  the  word  California,  many  spec- 
ulations have  been  offered,  none  of  which  are  e'thei  satisfactory  or  ingenious. 


in  consequc 

Bels  should 

their  discoi 

purpose  of 

rangements 

at  the  Isle  ( 

tains,)  situs 

vessel  calh 

patches,  res 

VVhether  oi 

certainty.* 

by  authorit 

In  the  ni 

succeeded 

interested  i 

tiiat  kingdi 

counts  of  i 

grination  a 

These  p 

beza  Vaca, 

landed,  in 

adventurer 

search  of  i 

of  their  coi 

savages,  hi 

until,  at  le 

nia, in  152 

no  signs  o 

yet  they  h 

fused  accc 

ther  north 

thought  p 

For  this  j 

of  his  frie 

two  Franc 

sent  on  su 

manner  pi 

^  not  foil  to 

;•  ification  o 

i      The  fiii 

i  had  accor 

i  departed  f 

I  they  took 

ers,  ho  we 


♦  Our  knc 
Cisco  Precia 
by  no  meanj 
pa^e  233 ;  ai 
page  503. 


r. 


27 


de  Mendoza, 

entrance  into 

himself,  in  a 

ich  had  been, 

ions ;  and  the 

had  been  al- 

new  discove- 

!e  difficulties ; 

Admiral  of  the 

he  Pacific,  he 

n  towards  the 

trieving  his 

jolonists  from 

in  raising  the 

contemplated 

Francisco  de 
n  order  to  at- 
ad  become  in- 
ly, 1539,  and, 
t  of  Culiacan, 
far  as  the  har- 
ding  country, 
ascertain  the 
jd  with  Ainer- 
se  continents, 
of  which,  the 
uz  northward, 
from  the  main 
needed,  exam- 
'  that  the  two 
ide.    He  then 
ne  arm  of  the 
lar  de  Cortes, 
id  a  variety  of 
Spaniards  is 
nations,  it  is 

iawith  Amer- 
le  the  western 
ilcd  from  the 
y  of  the  land 
Ivauced  along 
gainst  the  vi- 
•f  the  Pacific, 
le  time  of  his 
sels  were  dis- 
uch  reduced ; 


)rnia,  many  spec- 
ingenious. 


in  consequence  of  which,  it  was  determined  that  one  of  the  ves- 
;els  should  go  back  to  Mexico,  carrying  the  sick  and  the  news  of 
heir  discoveries,  while  UUoa  should  remain  in  the  other  for  the 
•urpose  of  examining  the  coast  still  farther.     The  necessary  ar- 
angements  having  been  accordingly  made,  the  two  vessels  parted 
at  the  Isle  of  Cedars,  (now  called  Ma  de  Cenos,  or  Isle  of  Moun- 
tains,) situated  near  the  coast,  in  the  28th  degree  of  latitude.    The 
vessel  called  the  Santa  Agueda,  bearing  the  sick  and  the  des- 
patches, reached  Acapulco  in  safety  before  the  end  of  May,  1540. 
Whether  or  not  Ulloa  ever  returned  to  Mexico,  is  not  known  with 
certainty.*  Thus  terminated  the  last  expedition  of  discovery  made 
by  authority  of  Hernan  Cortes. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  Viceroy,  Don  Antonio  de  Mendoza,  who 
succeeded  Cortes  in  the  government  of  Mexico,  had  also  become 
interested  in  the  examination  of  the  coasts  and  countries  north  of 
that  kingdom ;  his  attention  having  been  thus  directed  by  the  ac- 
counts of  some  persons  who  had  made  a  long  and  toilsome  pere- 
grination across  those  regions. 

These  persons,  Alvaro  Nuilez,  (better  known  in  history  as  Ca- 
heza  Vaca,  or  Bull-head,)  two  other  Spaniards,  and  a  negro,  had 
landed,  in  1527,  near  Tampa  Bay,  in  East  Florida,  among  the 
adventurers  under  Panfilo  Narvaez,  who  invaded  that  country  in 
search  of  mines  or  nations  to  plunder ;  and  after  the  destruction 
of  their  comrades  by  starvation,  shipwreck,  and  the  arrows  of  the 
savages,  had  wandered  for  nine  years  through  forests  and  deserts, 
until,  at  length,  they  reached  Culiacan,  near  the  Gulf  of  Califor- 
nia, in  1536.  Although  these  adventurers  had  themselves  seen 
no  signs  of  cultivation  or  wealth  in  the  territories  thus  traversed, 
yet  they  had  received  from  the  savages,  on  their  way,  many  con- 
fused accounts  of  rich  and  populous  kingdoms  situated  still  far- 
ther northward ;  and  the  Viceroy,  having  heard  their  statements, 
thought  proper  to  endeavor  to  ascertain  the  truth  of  the  reports. 
For  this  purpose  he  was  induced,  by  the  advice  and  solicitation 
of  his  friend,  the  celebrated  Bartolom6  de  las  Casas,  to  employ 
two  Franciscan  friars,  in  place  of  the  soldiers  who  were  usually 
sent  on  such  expeditions ;  in  order  that  the  natives  might  be  in  this 
manner  preserved  from  the  violence  which  military  men  would 
not  fail  to  exercise,  if  opportunity  should  be  offered  for  the  grat- 
ification of  their  cupidity. 

The  friars,  Marcos  de  Niza  and  Honorato,  with  the  negro  who 
had  accompanied  Cabeza  Vaca,  and  some  Indians,  accordingly 
departed  from  Culiacan  on  the  7th  of  March,  1539.  What  route 
they  took  it  is  impossible  now  to  discover.  The  reverend  explor- 
ers, however,  returned  before  the  end  of  the  year,  (without  the 
negro,)  bringing  accounts  of  countries  which  they  had  visited  in 
the  northwest,  abounding  in  gold  and  precious  stones,  and  in 


♦  Our  knowledge  of  Ulloa's  voyas«  is  derived  chiefly  from  the  narrative  of  Fran- 

vol. 


— g«  .'-   ^  ..v»  ■     .  .^  »n   -  .w  ..CI  1 V  Cil  ^nicilj'  II  Ulli  llic  ijai  1  aiiv  c  ui  x-  tail- 

Cisco  Preciado,  one  of  the  orticers  of  the  S;inia  Agncda,  which  is  interesting,  though 


by  no  means  exact.  It  may  be  found  in  Italian,  in  the  Collection  of  Ranmsio,  vol.  iii, 
p"age2vS3;  and  in  English,  iluiigh  badly  translated,  in  the  reprint  of  Hakluyt,  vol.  iii, 
page  503 


liiiO. 


April '\ 


,7  t ) 


Mur.  • 


i\ 


r 


[I! 


1:1 


i: 


IJm 


28 


vil 


\v     U 


1530.    habited  by  a  population  more  numerous  and  more  civilized  than 
either  Mexico  or  Peru. 

According  to  the  letter*  addressed  to  the  Viceroy  by  friar  Mar- 
cos, upon  his  return,  these  rich  and  delightful  countries  were  sit- 
uated beyond  the  35th  degree  of  latitude,  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
sea,  and  were  separated  from  those  previously  known  to  the  Span- 
iards by  extensive  tracts  of  forest  and  desert,  through  which  it 
would  be  necessaiy  to  pass  in  order  to  reach  the  golden  region. 
The  friar  describes  with  minuteness  his  route,  as  well  as  the  sit- 
uation, extent,  and  divisions  of  the  new  countries;  dwelling  par- 
ticularly on  the  magnificence  and  greatness  of  a  city  called  Cibola, 
the  capital  of  a  province  of  the  same  name,  which  he  describes  as 
containing  more  than  twenty  thousand  large  stone  houses,  all 
richly  adorned  with  gold  and  jewels.  The  people  of  this  place, 
as  the  letter  says,  were  at  first  hostile  to  the  strangers,  and  had 
killed  the  negro ;  but,  in  the  end,  they  had  evinced  a  disposition 
to  embrace  Christianity,  and  to  submit  to  the  authority  of  Spain ; 
m  consequence  of  which,  the  friars  had  secretly  taken  possession 
of  the  whole  country  for  their  Sovereign,  by  setting  up  crosses  in 
various  parts. 

These,  and  other  things  of  the  like  nature,  gravely  related  l^  ec- 
clesiastics, who  professed  to  have  witnessed  what  they  described, 
were  admitted  as  true  by  the  Viceroy ;  and  he  accordingly  pre- 
pared, without  delay,  to  conquer  these  new  countries,  which  were 
considered  as  belonging  of  right  to  his  Catholic  Majesty,  as'  well 
as  to  convert  their  inhabitants  to  Christianity.  For  these  pur- 
poses, he  raised  a  body  of  soldiers  and  missionaries,  who  were  to 
pursue  the  route  described  by  friar  Marcos,  under  the  command 
of  Francisco  Vasquez  de  Coronado,  the  governor  of  the  territory 
immediately  north  of  Mexico,  called  New  Gallicia.  At  the  same 
time,  in  order,  if  there  should  be  occasion,  to  support  these  f')rces, 
a  small  squadron  was  sent  along  the  western  coast,  towards  the 
north,  under  the  direction  of  Fernando  de  Alarcon. 

Cortes  also  claimed  the  right,  as  Admiral  of  the  South  Sea,  to 
attempt  the  conquest  of  these  countries  by  means  of  a  naval  ar- 
mament ;  and  a  violent  dispute  in  consequence  arose  between  the 

ijio  two  chiefs.  The  conqueror,  liowever,  had  expended  all  his  dis- 
posable funds  upon  the  equipment  of  the  shipsf  which  he  had 
sent  out  under  Ulloa,  before  the  return  of  friar  Marcos  from  the 
north ;  and  he  had,  therefore,  only  to  console  himself  with  the 
hope  that  those  vessels  might  accidentally  have  reached  the  shores 
of  the  golden  land  before  its  invasion  by  the  forces  of  the  Vice- 
roy. In  this  expectation  he  was  disappointed,  as  already  shov*  ii. 
This  extraordinary  man,  soon  after  the  conclusion  of  Ulloa's  voy- 
age, returned  to  Spain,  where  he  passed  the  remaining  seven 
years  of  his  life  in  vain  efforts  to  procure  restitution  of  his  prop- 


erty and  hf 
|had  renden 
f   •Fernan 
fby  Mendoz 
^Santiago,  o 
advanced  n 
ifornian  gu 
tiver.    Ha^ 
upon  this  I 
Buena  Gu 
branches,  ( 
of  eighty  1 
tance  he  f( 
either  side 
savages, 
nado's  part 
he  receive( 
in  gold  an 
of  rivers  fi! 
ers,  and  oi 
ity  of  his  c 
inite  infor 
he  might 
terior.    H 
those  who 
cut  off  in 
river  to  hi 
year.     His 
violent  ani 
ever,  so  Hi 
after  his  n 
The  lai 
perseverar 
situated  i 
letter  of  tl 
ber  and  r( 
J  leaving  C 
I  and  hnm 
I  Having  t 
I  ample  cai 
I  coverers. 
I  ted  nearl 
3   golden  la 
vated  ter 
barous,  I 
which  hi 
Viceroy. 


♦  See  Ramusio,  vol.  iii,  page  £17;  and  Hakluyt,  vol.  iii,  page  438. 

+  Herrera  oays  that  Ulloa  was  sent  by  Cortes  to  subdue  the  countries  discovered 
by  friar  Marcos.  This  is,  however,  an  error,  if  the  dates  given  by  him  and  the  other 
historians  of  that  period  be  correct. 


*  Letter  < 

vol.  iii,  pag 

t  Ramusi 


dd 


civilized  than 

by  friar  Mar- 
itries  were  sit- 
vicinity  of  the 
n  to  the  Span- 
)ugh  which  it 
golden  region, 
[veil  as  the  sit- 

dwelling  par- 
ir  called  6%o/«, 
le  describes  as 
ne  houses,  all 

of  this  place, 
gers,  and  had 
i  a  disposition 
jrity  of  Spain; 
cen  possession 
',  up  crosses  in 

)^  related  by  ec- 
hey  described, 
cordingly  pre- 
Js,  which  were 
ajesty,  as  well 
^or  these  pur- 
?,  who  were  to 
the  command 
)f  the  territory 
At  the  same 
rt  these  forces, 
Jt,  towards  the 

South  Sea,  to 
of  a  naval  ar- 
e  between  the 
led  all  his  dis- 
vvhich  he  had 
rcos  from  the 
iself  with  the 
bed  the  shores 
s  of  the  Vice- 
Iready  shov*  n. 
>f  Ulloa's  voy- 
laining  seven 
ti  of  his  prop- 


erty and  honors,  in  the  vast  and  valuable  dominions  which  he  1540 
iiad  rendered  subject  to  the  crown  of  Castile, 
f  •  Fernando  de  Alarcon,  the  commander  of  the  naval  forces  sent 
iby  Mendoza  for  the  conquest  of  Cibola,  sailed  from  the  harbor  of 
^Santiago,  on  the  west  coast  of  Mexico,  with  two  ships  of  war,  and  May  'X 
•advanced  northward  along  that  coast  to  the  extremity  of  the  Cal- 
Ifornian  gulf,  where  he  found  the  entrance  of  a  large  and  rapid 
river.  Having  embarked,  with  a  portion  of  his  crew,  in  boats,  Aug.ef> 
upon  this  river,  to  which  he  gave  the  name  of  Nuestra  Senora  de 
Buena  Guia,  (Our  Lady  of  Safe  Conduct,)  he  ascended  one  of  its 
branches,  (probably  that  now  called  the  Colorado,)  to  the  distance 
of  eighty  leagues  from  its  mouth.  Throughout  this  whole  dis- 
tance he  found  the  stream  broad  and  rapid,  and  the  country  on 
either  side  rich  and  thickly  peopled,  though  occupied  only  by 
savages.  In  reply  to  the  inquiries  made  by  him  respecting  Coro 
nado's  party,  and  the  rich  territories  of  which  they  were  in  searf^li, 
he  received  a  number  of  confused  stories  of  kingdoms  abounding 
in  gold  and  precious  stones,  and  inhabited  by  civilized  nations; 
of  rivers  filled  with  crocodiles ;  of  droves  of  buffaloes ;  of  enchant- 
ers, and  other  wonderful  or  remarkable  objects.  At  the  extrem- 
ity of  his  course  up  the  river,  he  received  what  he  considered  def- 
inite information  respecting  Cibola,  and  was  even  assured  that 
he  might  reach  that  country  by  a  march  of  ten  days  into  the  in- 
terior. He,  however,  suspected  some  treachery  on  the  part  of 
those  Avho  gave  such  assurances ;  and  fearing  lest  he  should  be 
cut  off  in  case  he  proceeded  farther  onwards,  he  descended  the 
river  to  his  ships,  and  returned  to  Mexico  before  the  end  of  the 
year.  His  report  to  the  Viceroy  displays  great  self-conceit,  and 
violent  animosity  against  Cortes  and  Ulloa.  Mendoza  was,  how- 
ever, so  little  satisfied  with  his  conduct,  that  hoAvas,  immediately 
after  his  return,  dismissed  from  the  service. 

The  land  forces  sent  under  Coronado  exhibited  much  greater 
perseverance  in  their  search  for  the  rich  kingdoms  believed  to  be 
situated  in  the  northwestern  part  of  America.  According  to  the 
letter  of  their  general,t  who  appears  to  have  been  a  person  of  so- 
ber and  resolute  character,  this  body  of  soldiers  and  priests,  after 
leaving  Culiacan,  followed  the  route  described  by  the  two  friars,  April :. 
and  found  the  forests  and  deserts  mentioned  in  their  narrative. 
Having  toiled  through  these  dreary  regions,  however,  they  had 
ample  cause  to  distrust  the  other  statements  of  the  reverend  dis- 
coverers. They  indeed  reached  a  country  called  Cibola,  situa-  Augusr 
ted  nearly  in  the  position  assigned  by  the  missionaries  to  their 
golden  land ;  but  they  there  saw  before  them  only  a  half-culti- 
vated territory,  thinly  inhabited  by  a  people  not  absolutely  bar- 
barous, but  yet  entirely  destitute  of  that  wealth  and  refinement 
which  had  been  attributed  to  them  in  the  reports  made  to  the 
Viceroy.     The  magnificent  cities  were  small  Indian  villages,  the 


V 


ri 
H 


K,;,, 


n tries  discovered 
lim  and  the  other 


♦  Letter  of  Alarcon  to  the  Viceroy,  in  Ramusio,  vol.  iii,  page  303;  and  inHakluyt, 
vol.  iii,  page  505. 
t  Ramusio,  vol.  iii,  page  300;  Hakluyt,  vol.  iii,  page  447. 


nil 


pi!' /I 


30 


11 


M 


li    !' 


1510.  largest  not  containing  more  than  two  hnndred  houses;  and  the 
immense  quantities  of  precious  metals  and  stones  dwindled  down 
into  "  a  few  turquoises,  and  "  some  little  gold  and  silver,  supposed 
to  be  goodJ*^  in  fine,  as  Coronado  says  in  his  despatch  written 
from  Cibola,  "  the  reverend  father  provincial  had  told  the  truth  in 
nothing  which  he  said  respecting  kingdoms,  provinces,  and  cities, 
in  this  region;  for  we  have  found  all  t/uite  the  contrary." 

The  Spaniards,  although  they  were  thus  disappointed  in  their 
hoi)osof  plunder,  yet  did  not  like  to  return  empty-handed  to  Mex- 
ico, and  ptuitioned  their  leader  to  allow  them  to  settle  in  Cibola, 
which  was  a  pleasant  and  agreeable  country.  To  this  request, 
however,  Coronado  would  not  assent ;  and  he  could  only  be  pre- 
vailed on  to  continue  the  march  northward  for  some  time  longer, 
in  search  of  other  rich  countries,  which  were  said  by  the  people 
of  Cibola  to  lie  in  that  direction.  Of  the  remainder  of  their  jour- 
ney after  quitting  Cibola,  we  have  a  very  imperfect  account.  It 
appears  that  they  rambled  for  two  years  through  the  region  be- 
tween the  Pacific  and  the  great  dividing  chain  of  mountams,  de- 
riving their  subsistence  chiefly  from  the  flesh  of  the  buffiilocs, 
which  were  there  found  in  large  numbers.    The  northern  limit 

1541.  of  their  wanderings  was  a  country  called  by  them  Huiinra,  near 
the  ocean,  and  under  the  40th  degree  of  latitude,  inhabited  by  a 
kind  and  intelligent  people,  from  whom  the  Spaniards  learned 
that  the  coasts  were  occasionally  visited  by  ships  ladcni  with  rich 
goods  and  adorned  with  gilded  images.*     With  information  of 

VAi.  this  nature  the  adventurers  returned  to  Mexico  in  1542,  to  the 
great  disappointment  of  Mendoza,  who  doubtless  expected  inore 
real  results  from  the  labor  and  expense  bestowed  by  him  on  the 
equipment  and  pay  of  the  body. 

i:,H.  Before  the  return  of  Coronado "s  party  from  the  north west,t  the 
Viceroy  had  prepared  another  naval  armament,  which  was  to  pro- 
ceed in  that  direction,  from  one  of  the  ix)rts  on  the  Pacific,  under 
the  command  of  Pedro  do  Alvarado,  one  of  the  most  celebrated  he- 
roes of  the  conquest.  But,  just  as  it  was  about  to  depart,  a  rebellion 
broke  out  among  the  Indians  of  the  province  of  Jalisco ;  and  the 
forces  which  had  been  assembled  for  the  expedition  on  the  ocean 
were  all  required  to  re-establish  the  Spanish  authority  in  tlie  dis- 
turbed territories.  In  the  course  of  the  campaign  which  ensued,  Al- 
varado was  killed  by  a  kick  from  his  horse ;  and  the  difficulties  in 
Jalisco  continuing,  Mendoza  could  not  carry  into  efl'ect  his  views 
with  regard  to  the  countries  northwest  of  Mexico  until  the  fol- 
lowing year. 

ijt-2.        '^'^'^  disturbances  in  Mexico  having  beent  at  length  quieted, 
two  of  the  vessels  which  had  been  prepared  wr  the  expedition  to 
the  North  Pacific  were  placed  under  the  command  of  Juan  Ro- 
driguez de  Cabrillo,  a  Portuguese  navigator  of  considerable  rep- 
Junc  27.  utation  at  that  day.     These  vessels  sailed  together  from  the  port 


ofNavidadjii 

bor  of  Santa 

'cas,  in  order 

Ijeen  discove 

out  attemptii 

this  coast,  oi 

visited  by  hi 

Ifice  it  to  say 

^as  far  north  i 

poa, incessan 

this  height 

they  had  bcfi 

in  the  small 

34  th  parallel 

had  been  su 

to  the  pilot, 

The  new 

cessor,  resol 

expedition  1 

from  Port  P( 

back,  at  len| 

vation,  in  tl 

i  vessels  were 

S  ishment ;  ir 

i  tempt  to  pro 

I  ably  to  this 

I  wards  the  si 

I  April,  1543. 

\     It  is  not ( 

;  precisely  w 

;  coast  seen  I 

,  examining 

I  which  are  s 

I  that  the  43( 

I  ern  limit  of 

k  same  writei 

documents 

be  identifie 

bly  with  tl 

named  by 

commemor 

that  situate 

wards  recei 

While  tl 

Viceroy  M( 

band  of  a( 

through  tl; 

known  by 


*  In  this  account  there  is  nothing  improbable.    Japanese  vessels  h.ive  been  found 
upon  the  northwest  eoasis  of  America  twice  ^ince  1814. 
tHerrera,  decade  7,  book  2,  chapter  11.     +llerrera,  dti;adc  7,  book  5,  chapter  3. 


*  Introducti 

tThere  are 

those  by  Garc 


»1 


ses ;  and  the 
I'^indled  down 
(vir,  supposed 
patch  written 
(I  tin:  truth  in 
cs,  and  cities. 

inted  in  their 
ndcd  to  Mex- 
llo  in  Cibola, 
this  request, 
I  only  be  pre- 
tinie  longer, 
y  the  people 
of  their  jour- 
account.     It 
he  region  be- 
lountanis,  de- 
he  buffaloes, 
inrthern  limit 
Quimra,  near 
iihabited  by  a 
liards  learned 
den  with  rich 
iifonnation  of 
I  1542,  to  the 
Expected  more 
)y  him  on  the 

>rthwest,t  the 
:h  was  to  pro- 
Pacilic,  under 
celebrated  he- 
irt,  a  rebellion 
isco ;  and  the 
on  the  ocean 
ity  in  the  dis- 
h  ensued,  Al- 
difficulties  in 
iect  his  views 
until  the  fol- 

igth  quieted, 
expedition  to 
of  Juan  Ro- 
siderablc  rep- 
from  tlie  port 


have  been  found 
i\i  5,  chapter  3. 


Jan.  3. 


of  Navidad ,  in  Jalisco ;  and,  after  a  short  passage,  reached  tlio  har-  •M* 
bor  of  Santa  Cruz,  whence  they  proceeded  around  Cape  San  Jai-  J"'y-- 
icas,  in  order  to  explore  the  west  coast  of  Calilbrniu,  whii-h  had 
|been  discovered  two  years  before  by  Francisco  de  Ulloa.  With- 
out attempting  to  trace  minutely  the  progress  of  Cabrillo  along 
this  coast,  or  to  enumerate  the  various  bays,  capes,  arid  islands 
visited  by  him,  scarcely  any  of  which  can  now  be  identified,  suf- 
'fice  it  to  say  that,  by  the  middle  of  November,  he  had  advanced  Nov.  ij 
as  far  north  as  the  40th  degree  of  latitude ;  having  been,  like  Ul- 
i;loa,  incessantly  opposed  by  violent  northwesterly  winds.  From 
this  height  the  Spaniards  were  driven  back  to  a  harbor,  which 
they  had  before  entered  and  named  Port  Possession^  supposed  to  be 
in  the  small  island  of  San  Bernardo,  near  the  main  land  under  the 
34th  parallel.  Here  Cabrillo  sunk  under  the  fatigues  to  which  he 
had  been  subjected,  and  died,  leaving  the  command  of  the  ships 
to  the  pilot,  Bartolome  Ferrer,  or  Ferrelo.i 

The  new  commander,  being  no  less  enterprising  than  his  prede- 
cessor, resolved,  if  possible,  to  attain  some  of  the  objects  of  the 
expedition  before  returning  to  Mexico.     He  accordingly  sailed 
from  Port  Possession ;  and,  after  having  been  several  times  driven 
back,  at  length,  on  the  1st  of  March,  he  found  himself,  by  obser-  March  i 
vation,  in  the  44th  decree  of  latitude.    Here  the  crews  of  both 
vessels  were  suffering  from  cold,  fatigue,  and  want  of  projxjr  nour- 
vishment;  in  consequence  of  which,  it  was  resolved  that  the  at- 
I  tempt  to  proceed  farther  northward  should  be  abandoned.  Agree- 
lably  to  this  resolution,  the  navigators  directed  their  course  to- 
I  wards  the  south,  and  arrived  in  safety  at  Navidad  on  the  14th  of 
I  April,  1543. 

i     It  is  not  easy,  from  the  accounts  which  we  possess,  to  ascertain 
;  precisely  what  was  the  most  northern  point  on  the  American 
;  coast  seen  by  the  Spaniards  in  this  expedition.     Navarrete,*  after 
examining  the  journals  and  other  papers  relating  to  the  voyage, 
I  which  are  still  preserved  in  the  Archives  of  the  Indies,  pronounces 
I  that  the  43d  parallel  of  latitude  is  to  be  considered  as  the  north- 
I  ern  limit  of  the  discoveries  made  by  Cabrillo  and  Fcrrelo.    The 
,;  same  \vriter  has  also  remarked,  that  the  latitudes  assigned  in  those 
documents  to  all  the  places  visited  by  the  ships,  which  can  nov/ 
■  be  identified,  are  about  a  degree  and  a  half  too  high.     Conforma- 
bly with  this  observation,  it  would  appear  that  a  promontory, 
named  by  Ferrelo  the  Cape  of  Risks,  ( Cabo  de  Fortumis,)  in 
commemoration  of  the  perils  encountered  in  its  vicinity,  may  be 
that  situated  in  the  latitude  of  40  degrees  20  minutes,  which  after- 
wards received  the  name  of  Cape  Mendocino. 

While  the  expeditions  thus  made  under  the  authority  of  the 
Viceroy  Mendoza  were  in  progress,  Hernando  de  Soto  and  his 
band  of  adventurers  were  performing  their  celebrated  marchf 
through  the  region  north  of  the  Mexican  Gulf,  which  was  then 
known  by  the  general  name  of  Florida.    Without  attempting  to 


*  Introduction  to  the  Journal  of  the  Sutil  and  Mexicana,  page  34. 
tThere  are  several  accounts  of  this  expedition ;  among  which,  the  best  known  are 
those  by  Garcilasso  de  la  Vega,  and  by  an  anonymous  Portuguese. 


153S 

to 

1513. 


\ 


|l 


;   } 
i 


if 


t 


h 


f 


H 


{I 


;;i 


M 


33 


ir,i:j. 


15I-;! 


IJGl. 


y 


delinontn  iho  course  of  thoir  wandorings,  siWRco  it  to  sny  that 
they  tnivorsed,  in  various  diroctioiis,  the  vast  territories  nowcoin^ 
posing  the  southern  and  southwestern  States  of  the  Anieriean 
Union,  and  then  (iescended  the  Mississippi  from  a  point  near  the 
mouth  of  th(!  Oiiio  to  the  (iulf,  over  whieh  they  made  tlicir  way  in 
boats  to  Panuco.  From  the  af^counts  of  the  few  who  survived 
the  fatigues  and  perils  of  this  enterprise,  added  to  those  of  Alvaro 
Nvifiez  and  Vasquez  do  Coronado  respecting  the  countries  which 
they  had  severally  visited,  it  was  considered  ahsolutely  certain 
that  neither  wealthy  nations  nor  navigable  passages  between  the 
Atlantic  and  the  Pacific  oceans  were  to  bo  found  north  of  Mexico, 
unless  beyond  the  40th  degree  of  latitude.  Having  arrived  nt 
this  conclusion,  the  Spaniards  desisted  from  their  elForts  to  ex- 
plore the  northwest  division  of  America,  and  did  not  renew  thorn 
until  nearly  fifty  years  afterwards.  In  the  moan  time,  circum- 
stances  had  occurred  which  served  to  show  that  the  discovery  of 
any  means  of  facilitating  the  entrance  of  ships  from  Kuropo  mto 
the  Pacific  would  be  deleterious  to  the  interests  of  Spain  in  the 
New  World. 

Before  the  middle  of  the  sixteenth  century,  the  Portuguese  had 
established  their  dominion  over  a  large  portion  of  the  coasts  and 
islands  of  the  East  Indies,  between  which  and  Europe  they  were 
carrying  on  an  extensive  and  valuable  trade  by  way  of  the  Cape 
of  Good  Hope.  The  Spaniards,  in  the  mean  time,  viewing  with 
feelings  of  jealousy  ana  vexation  this  advancement  of  the  power 
and  wealth  of  their  rivals,  had  endeavored  likewise  to  obtain  a 
footing  in  southern  Asia,  for  which  purpose  naval  armaments  had 
been  despatched  thither  from  Spain,  through  the  straits  of  Magel- 
lan, and  also  firom  the  ports  of  Mexico  on  the  Pacific.  These 
expeditions  had,  however,  proved  unsuccessful.  The  squadron 
sent  from  Mexico  in  1542,  under  Admiral  Villalobos,  crossed  the 
Pacific  in  safety,  and  reached  the  group  of  islands,  since  called 
the  Philippines,  of  which  possession  was  taken  for  the  King  of 
Spain.  The  forces  of  Villalobos  were,  however,  soon  dispersed, 
and  none  of  his  vessels  returned  to  Mexico. 

In  1664  the  Spaniards  made  another  effort  to  establish  them- 
selves in  the  East  Indies,  the  issue  of  which  was  more  fortunate. 
The  Philippine  islands  were  in  that  year  entirely  subjugated 
by  Miguel  de  Legaspi,  who  had  been  sent  for  the  purpose  with  a 
squadron  from  the  port  of  Nuvidad,  on  the  west  coast  of  Mexico; 
moreover,  a  discovery  was  effected  during  this  expedition,  which 
proved  highly  important,  and  without  which,  indeed,  the  other 
results  would  have  been  of  little  value.  Until  that  period,  no  one 
had  ever  crossed  the  Pacific  from  Asia  to  America;  all  who  had  at- 
tempted to  make  such  a  voyage  having  endeavored  to  sail  di- 
rectly westward,  through  the  part  of  the  ocean  lying  between  the 
tropics,  where  the  winds  blow  constantly  from  eastern  points. 
Three  of  Legaspi's  ships,  however,  by  taking  a  northeastern 
course  from  the  Philippines,  entered  a  region  of  variable  winds, 
and  were  thus  enabled  to  reach  the  vicinity  of  the  Californian 
coast,  about  the  40th  parallel  of  latitude,  firom  which  the  prevail- 
ing northwesters  soon  carried  them  to  Mexico.        ^ 


The  Spi 
a  iKisition 
sbility  of  c( 
Pacific,  wt 
the  naviga 
the  same  [ 
provinces 
sailed  regi 
European 
they  brou^ 
consumpti 
extensive 
tween  Pan 
made  (or  t 
safe;  and 
sion  on  th 
upon  the 

The  sh 

by  the  invi 

to  their  po 

northwest 

thus  becai 

i  accounts  o 

:  served ;  bu 

I  consequen 

I  may  be  fo^ 

I  ico,  by  Fri 

I  passages  fi 

» on  which 

ters,  as  sh 

Pacific  du 

lefl  Macao 

{  usual  norl 

which  he 

Where  he 

cisely  stat 

^  pan,  east  £ 

upon  the  < 

a  half,  we 

wholly  w 

southeast- 

to  the  poll 

of  the  Ian 

and  twent 

Mendocin 

degrees ;  ] 

Gedi  read 

parallel  oj 


0.  it  to  say  tlint 
itorics  now  com. 
f  tlio  Ariicricnn 
a  point  nnnr  the 
!ul(!  their  way  in 
V  who  survived 
those  of  Alvaro 
countries  which 
)sohUeIy  certain 
fos  between  thp 
lorth  of  Mexico, 
ving  arrived  at 
ir  efforts  to  ex- 
not  renew  them 
1  time,  circum- 
:he  discovery  of 
am  Europe  into 
of  Spain  in  the 

Portuguese  had 
'  the  coasts  and 
J  rope  they  were 
ay  of  the  Cafw 
),  viewing  with 
lit  of  the  power 
nsc  to  obtain  a 
arniainonts  had 
traits  of  Magel- 
'aoific.  These 
The  squadron 
308,  crossed  the 
Js,  since  called 
3r  the  King  of 
soon  dispersed, 

jstablish  them- 
more  fortunate, 
ely  subjugated 
purpose  with  a 
►ast  of  Mexico ; 
x)dition,  which 
leed,  the  other 
:  period,  no  one 
all  who  had  at- 
>red  to  sail  di- 
ig  between  the 
eastern  points, 
a  northeastern 
rariable  winds, 
he  Californian 
ch  the  prevail- 


i 


33 

The  Spaniard.s  thus  gained — what  they  had  so  long  desired — 
,n  iM)8ition  in  the  Kiust  Indies;  and  all  doubts  as  to  the  practica- 
bility of  conununication  with  those  c(»untries,  by  nicuuis  of  the 
Pacific,  were  completely  dissipated.  Various  other  oi)stac|cs  to 
the  navigation  of  tliat  ocean  being  in  like  manner  removed  about 
the  same  period,  the  commercial  intercourse  between  the  Spanish 
provinces  in  America  and  in  Asia  rapidly  increased.  Large  sliijis 
sailed  regularly  from  Acapulco,  laden  with  precious  metals  and 
European  merchandise,  for  Manilla  and  Macao,  from  which  places 
they  brought  back  the  silks  and  spices  of  the  Indies,  either  for 
consum])tion  in  Mexico,  or  for  transportation  to  Spain;  while  an 
extensive  trade  in  articles  no  less  valuable  was  carried  on  be- 
tween Panama  and  the  ports  of  Chili  and  Peru.  The  voyages 
made  for  these  purposes  were  in  general  long,  but  comparatively 
safe ;  and  as  the  Pacific  was  for  some  years  free  from  all  intru- 
sion on  the  part  of  other  nations,  little  care  or  cost  was  bestowed 
upon  the  defence  of  the  vessels,  or  of  the  towns  on  the  coast. 

The  ships  proceeding  from  Acapulco  to  Manilla  were  carried, 
by  the  invariable  easterly  or  trade  winds,  directly  across  the  ocean, 
to  their  port;  in  returning,  they  frequently  made  the  land  o  i  the 
northwest  coast  of  America,  the  most  prominent 'points  of -"lich 
thus  became,  in  the  course  of  time,  tolerably  well  known.  The 
accounts  of  two  or  three  of  these  return  voyages  have  been  pre- 
served; but  the  information  obtained  from  them  is  of  little  use  in 
consequence  of  their  want  of  exactness.  In  Hakluyt's  Collection 
may  be  found  a  letter,*  addressed  in  1584  to  the  Viceroy  of  Mex- 
ico, by  Francisco  Gali,  or  Gualie,  containing  a  description  of  his 
passages  from  Acapulco  to  Macao,  and  thence  back  to  Acapulco; 
on  which  letter  great  stress  is  laid  by  Navarrete  and  other  wri- 
ters, as  showing  the  extent  of  Spanish  discoveries  in  the  North 
Pacific  during  the  sixteenth  century.  Gali  there  relates  that  he 
lefl  Macao  on  the  24th  of  July,  1684,  and,  proceeding  by  the 
usual  northern  route,  reached  the  American  coast,  in  sight  of 
which  he  sailed  for  a  long  distance  before  arriving  at  Acapulco. 
Where  he  first  saw  the  land  of  America,  the  letter  does  not  pre- 
cisely state.  After  describing  his  course  from  the  vicinity  of  Ja- 
pan, east  and  east-by-north,  he  says:  "Being  by  the  same  course, 
upon  the  coast  of  New  Spain,  under  seven-and-thirty  degrees  and 
a  half,  we  passed  a  very  high  and  fair  land,  with  many  trees, 
wholly  without  snow,  dec.  From  thence,  we  ran  soudieast, 
southeast-by-south,  and  southeast-by-east,  as  we  found  the  wind, 
to  the  point  called  el  Cabo  de  San  Lucas,  which  is  the  i  ri'ining 
of  the  land  of  California  on  the  northwest  side,  lying  <u:..[-jv  two 
and  twenty  degrees,  being  five  hundred  leagues  distant  from  Cape 
Mendocino."  No  mention  is  made  of  any  land  seen  north  of  37^ 
degrees ;  Navarrete,  and  after  him  Humboldt,  howc  t;r,  insist  that 
Gali  reached  the  vicinity  of  the  American  cop'^^!  ;*ent,  under  the 
parallel  oi  fifty -seven  and  a  half  degrees;  arid  that  the  first  land 


*  Vol.  Hi,  page  526,  of  the^eprint.  The  letter  is  "translated  out  of  Spanish  into 
Dutch,  verbatim,  by  John  HuyghenVan  Linschoten,"  and  from  Dutch  into  English. 


l.->oi 


1584. 


}\' 


li    '■ 


w 

111' 


'i  I 


1 

1- 

: 

f 


i;ii 


1581. 


1593. 


15G0 

to 
1578. 


34 

seen  by  him  was  the  western  side  of  the  largest  island  of  King 
George  the  Third's  group.  This  assertion  is  supported  by  no  ev 
idence;  and  is  irreconcilable  with  the  account  given  by  the  nav- 
igator in  his  letter,  the  genuineness  of  which  is  not  denied.* 

Torquemada,  in  his  History  of  the  Indian  Monarchy,  (vol.  i, 
page  717,)  mentions  the  voyage  of  a  ship  called  the  San  Augus- 
tin  along  the  western  side  of  California,  in  1595,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Sebastian  Rodriguez  CermeRon,  who  had  been  directed 
to  examine  the  coast  in  search  of  a  place  suitable  for  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  colony  and  marine  depot;  nothing,  however,  is 
stated  respecting  the  course  of  the  ship,  except  that  she  was  lost 
in  the  bay  of  San  Francisco.  We  have  accounts  of  two  or  three 
other  visits  made  by  Europeans  to  this  part  of  America  during  the 
sixteenth  century,  which  will  be  noticed  hereafter. 

While  the  commerce  of  the  Spaniards  in  the  Pacific  was  thus 
increasing,  their  Government  was  adopting  those  measures  of  re- 
striction and  exclusion,  which  were  maintained  with  so  little  re- 
laxation during  the  whole  remaining  period  of  its  supremacy  in 
the  American  continent.  The  great  object  of  its  policy  was  to 
secure  to  the  monarch  and  people  of  Spain  the  entire  and  perpet- 
ual enjoyment  of  all  the  advantages  which  could  be  derived  from 
the  territories  claimed  by  them  in  virtue  of  the  Papal  cession  of 
1493;  and,  with  that  view,  it  was  considered  absolutely  necessary, 
not  only  to  prevent  the  establishment  of  foreigners  in  any  part  of 
those  territories,  but  also  to  discourage  the  rapid  advancement  of 
the  Spanish  provinces  themselves  in  population,  wealth,  or  other 
resources.  Agreeably  to  these  ideas,  the  settlement,  and  even  the 
exploring  of  new  countries  in  America,  were  restrained ;  colonies 
were  rarely  allowed  to  be  planted  near  the  coasts,  unless  they 
might  serve  for  purposes  of  defence ;  and  when  voyages  or  jour- 
neys of  discovery  were  made,  the  results  were  generally  concealed 
by  the  Government.  The  subjects  of  all  foreign  nations  were 
prohibited,  under  pain  of  death,  from  touching  the  section  of  the 
New  World  supposed  to  belong  to  Spain,  or  from  navigating  the 
seas  in  its  vicinity. 

Against  these  excluding  regulations,  the  English,  after  they  had 
thrown  off  their  allegiance  to  the  head  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
church,  began  first  to  murmur,  and  then  to  act.  Their  Govern- 
ment required  from  that  of  Spain  an  acknowledgment  of  their 
rights  to  occupy  vacant  portions  of  America,  and  to  trade  with 
such  as  were  already  settled ;  and  these  demands  having  been  re- 
fused, Queen  Elizabeth  did  not  hesitate  to  encourage  her  subjects, 
openly  as  well  as  secretly,  to  violate  laws  which  she  declared  to 


»  The  only  authorities  with  regard  to  Gali's  voyage,  cited  by  Navarreie,  in  addi- 
tion to  the  letter  from  the  navigator  contained  inHakluyt,  are  two  letters  addressed 
by  the  Viceroy  of  Mexico  to  the  King  of  Spain  in  1585 ;  the  originals  of  which  are 
preserved  in  the  Archives  of  the  Indies.  These  two  letters  are  merely  mentioned  in 
a  note.  The  account  of  the  voyage  given  by  Navarrete  is,  however,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  the  difference  as  to  the  nighest  degree  of  latitude  reached  by  Gali,  pre- 
cisely the  same  as  that  contained  in  Hakluyt.  Humboldt,  as  usual,  copies  Navar- 
rete in  all  thmgs  relating  to  the  discovery  of  the  northwest  coast  The  question  is 
of  no  importance  at  present. 


\  be  unjusti 
J  Indian  sea 
ijringEngli 
I  traders  an( 
I  gard  to  CO 
Idered  the 
coasts.    A 
attempts 
Netherlan( 
^  inces,  shoi 
I  of  these  in 
i     The  Pa 
^  invasions 
i  sage  throu 
regard  as  ' 
between 
had  previo 
reports  of 
the  riches 
■;  however, 
I  of  the  Enj 
I  that  ocean 
I  naval  capt 
^  captain  we 
during  thi 
i  ies  on  the 
his  mover 
determine, 
i  authentic ; 
lected  fron 
;  public,  are 
I     Francis 
I  five  small 
I  self  and  c 
voyage  to 
minions  t 
and  Spain 
tual  hatre( 
tween  the 
als  were  r 
abeth  froi 
which  sh( 
For  son 
Atlantic, ; 
refitted  hi 


♦  The  firsi 
in  1575.  Ir 
hnm,  crosse 
they  made  '. 
their  enemi 

t  See  Api 


35 


island  of  King 
)orted  by  no  ev- 
ven  by  the  nav- 
ot  denied.* 
)narchy,  (vol.  i, 
he  San  Angus- 
under  the  com- 
d  been  directed 
e  for  the  estab- 
ig,  however,  is 
lat  she  was  lost 
of  two  or  three 
rica  during  the 

acific  was  thus 
measures  of  re- 
ith  so  little  re- 
!  supremacy  in 
I  policy  was  to 
tire  and  perpet- 
)e  derived  from 
apal  cession  of 
itely  necessary, 
in  any  part  of 
dvancement  of 
'^ealth,  or  other 
t,  and  even  the 
lined;  colonies 
s,  unless  they 
jyages  or  jour- 
rally  concealed 
nations  were 
section  of  the 
navigating  the 

,  after  they  had 
)man  Catholic 
rheir  Govern - 
:ment  of  their 
to  trade  with 
iving  been  re- 
3  her  subjects, 
he  declared  to 


avarrete,  in  addi- 
letters  addressed 
nals  of  which  are 
rely  mentioned  in 
ver,  wiih  the  ex- 
tied  by  Gali,  pre- 
al,  copies  Narar- 
The  question  is 


1360 

to 

1578 


be  unjustifiable  and  inhuman.  The  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  the  West 
I  Indian  seas  were,  in  consequence,  soon  haunted  by  bands  of  da- 
I  ring  English,  who,  under  the  equivocal  denominations  of  free- 
I  traders  and  freebooters,  set  at  defiance  all  prohibitions  with  re- 
igard  to  commerce  or  territorial  occupation,  and  frequently  plun- 
dered the  ships  of  the  Spaniards,  as  well  as  the  towns  on  their 
coasts.    About  the  same  time,  the  French  Protestants  began  their 
attempts  to  form  settlements  in  Florida;  and  the  revolt  in  the 
Netherlands,  which  terminated  in  the  freedom  of  the  Dutch  prov- 
inces, shortly  afler  produced  a  formidable  increase  in  the  number 
of  these  irregular  foes  to  the  supremacy  of  Spain. 

The  Pacific  was  for  some  years  preserved  from  such  hostile 
invasions  by  the  dread  of  the  difficulties  and  dangers  of  the  pas- 
sage through  the  straits  of  Magellan ;  and  the  Spaniards  began  to 
regard  as  bulwarks  of  defence  those  obstacles  to  communication 
between  Europe  and  the  western  side  of  America,  which  they 
had  previously  been  so  desirous  to  remove  or  counteract.     The 
reports  of  the  extent  and  value  of  the  trade  in  the  Pacific,  and  of 
the  riches  accumulated  at  various  places  in  its  vicinity,  did  not, 
i.  however,  fail  in  time  to  overcome  all  apprehensions  on  the  part 
i  of  the  English,*  whose  ships  at  length,  in  1578,  appeared  upon     1579 
that  ocean,  under  the  command  of  the  most  able  and  adventurous 
,  naval  captain  of  the  age.    It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  say  that  this 
I  captain  was  Francis  Drake.   As  he  is  generally  supposed  to  have, 
I  during  the  voyage  here  mentioned,  eflfected  important  discover- 
I  ies  on  the  northwest  coasts  of  America,  it  will  be  proper  to  notice 
I  his  movements  in  that  quarter  of  the  world  particularly ;  and  to 
I  determine,  if  possible,  how  far  such  suppositions  are  based  upon 
I  authentic  proofs.    The  most  material  facts  on  the  subject,  as  col- 
I  lected  from  the  only  original  evidencef  which  has  yet  been  made 
if  public,  are  the  following : 

I  Francis  Drake  sailed  from  Plymouth  in  December,  1577,  with  1577 
I  five  small  vessels,  which  had  been  procured  and  armed  by  him-  ^"^"^  *•* 
^  self  and  other  private  individuals  in  England,  ostensibly  for  a 
voyage  to  Egypt,  but  really  for  a  predatory  cruise  against  the  do- 
minions and  subjects  of  Spain.  The  Governments  of  England 
and  Spain  were  then,  indeed,  at  peace  with  each  other ;  but  mu- 
tual hatred,  arising  from  causes  already  alluded  to,  prevailed  be- 
tween the  two  nations,  and  the  principles  of  general  law  or  mor- 
als were  not  at  that  period  so  refined  as  to  prevent  Queen  Eliz- 
abeth from  favoring  Drake's  enterprise,  with  the  real  objects  of 
which  she  was  doubtless  well  acquainted. 

For  some  months  afler  leaving  England,  Drake  roved  about  the     1578 
Atlantic,  without  malcing  any  prize  of  value ;  and  then,  having 
refitted  his  ships  on  the  eastern  coast  of  Patagonia,  he  succeeded 


♦  The  first  attack  made  by  the  English  on  the  Spaniards,  in  (he  Pacific,  took  place 
in  1575.  In  that  year,  a  party  of  freebooters,  headed  by  their  captain,  John  Oxen- 
hnm,  crossed  the  isthmus  of  Panama,  and  built  a  vessel  on  the  south  side,  in  which 
they  made  several  valuable  prizes;  they,  however,  at  length  fell  into  the  hands  of 
their  enemies,  and  were  all,  with  the  exception  of  five  boys,  put  to  death  at  Panama. 

t  See  Appendix  A  to  this  memoir. 


■'I 


k\1 

m 
I 
i 


nil 


.  i  li  I  1 


f  II . 


i;; 
•;  -1' 

i,:! 

;     .1 
1     '■' 


ill 


36 


1578. 
Sept.  ^ 


'        t!' 


•i' 


in  conducting  three  of  them  safely  through  the  dreaded  straits  of 
^*  Magellan,  into  the  Pacific.  Scarcely,  however,  was  this  accom- 
plished, ere  the  little  squadron  was  dispersed  by  a  storm;  and  the 
chief  of  the  expedition  was  left  with  only  a  schooner  of  a  hun- 
dred tons  burden,  and  about  sixty  men,  to  prosecute  his  enter- 
prise against  the  power  and  wealth  of  the  Spaniards  on  the  west- 
ern side  of  America. 
December.  Notwithstanding  these  disheartening  occurrences,  Dralce  did 
not  hesitate  to  proceed  to  the  parts  of  the  coast  occupied  by  the 
Spaniards,  whom  he  found  unprepared  to  resist  him  either  on  land 
or  on  sea.  He  accordingly  plundered  their  towns  and  ships  with 
little  difficulty ;  and  so  deep  and  lasting  was  the  impression  pro- 
duced by  his  achievements,  that,  for  more  than  a  century  after- 
wards, his  name  was  never  pronounced  in  those  countries  with- 
out exciting  feelings  of  horror  and  detestation. 
I57i).  At  length,  in  the  spring  of  1579,  having  completed  his  visita- 
April.  tion  of  the  American  coast  by  the  plunder  of  the  town  of  Guatul- 
co,  near  Acapulco  in  Mexico,  Drake  considered  it  most  prudent  to 
direct  his  course  towards  England ;  and,  fearing  that  he  might  be 
intercepted  by  the  Spaniards  if  he  should  attempt  to  repass  the 
straits  of  Magellan,  he  determined  to  cross  the  Pacific  to  the  East 
Indies,  and  thence  to  continue  his  voyage  around  the  Cape  of 
Good  Hope,  to  his  country.  With  this  view,  he  left  Guatulco  on 
the  16th  of  April;  but,  instead  of  proceeding  directly  westward, 
which  would  have  been  his  true  line  of  navigation,  he,  for  some 
reason  not  clearly  shown  in  the  accounts  of  his  expedition,  sailed 
towards  the  north,  and  on  the  2d  of  June  following  had  reached 
the  42d  parallel  of  latitude.  There  his  men  began  to  sufier  from 
cold ;  and  his  farther  progress  appeared  to  be  difficult,  if  not  im- 
possible, on  account  of  the  violence  and  constancy  of  the  north- 
west winds.  Under  these  circumstances,  (whether  from  accident 
or  intentionally  is  not  certain,)  he  fell  in  with  the  American  coast, 
and  anchored  near  it.  The  place,  however,  proving  insecure, 
he  quitted  it  without  landing,  and  sailed  along  the  shore  to  the 
south,  until  he  found  a  safe  and  commodious  harbor  about  the 
38th  degree  of  latitude,  in  which  he  remained  with  his  vessel 

June  17  ^^^"^  ^^^  l^*h  ^^  J**"®  to  the  23d  of  July. 
10  This  period  was  spent  by  the  English  in  repairing  their  vessel, 

July  23.  and  making  other  arrangements  for  the  long  voyage  in  prospect. 
The  natives  of  the  surrounding  country,  who  came  in  crowds  to 
the  shore  of  the  harbor,  at  first  exhibited  signs  of  hostile  inten- 
tions. They  were,  however,  soon  conciliated  by  the  kind  and 
forbearing  conduct  of  the  strangers ;  and  their  respect  for  Drake 
increased  to  such  an  extent,  that,  when  they  saw  him  about  to  de- 
part, they  earnestly  entreated  him  to  remain  among  them  as  their 
king.  Thu  naval  hero,  though  not  disposed  to  undertake  in  per- 
son the  duties  of  sovereignty  over  a  tribe  of  naked  savages,  nev- 
ertheless "  thought  meet  not  to  reject  the  crown ;  because  he  knew 
not  what  honor  and  profit  it  might  bring  to  his  own  country. 
Wherefore,  in  the  name  and  to  the  use  of  her  Majesty  Queen 
Elizabeth,  he  took  the  sceptre,  crown,  and  dignity  of  the  country 
into  his  hands ;  wishing  that  the  riches  and  treasure  thereof  might 


. .  so  convem 
s  at  home." 
lemony;  D 
I  added  to 
I  erecting  o 
tion  comm 
The  pre 
pleted,  DrE 
regret,  on 
cific, reach 
I  days ;  then 
s  around  th( 
I  arrived  in 
^  September 
With  xe{ 
in  which  t 
from  the  o 
situated  bf 
J  that  a  gro 
I  distance  fi 
I  it  was  eiti 
miles  farth 
descriptioi 
seen  by  D 
apparently 
the  43d  d( 
m  course  in 
I  questional] 
I  whole  sho 
I  Burney,  ir 
%  356,)  has 
;^  nounces  tl 
I  is  to  be  rcc 
cino,  ami  i 
opinion  ha 
ever,  stron 
view  of  tl 
trymen  w< 
these  reas( 
ety  allotte 
consigned 
here  prese 
cler  Drah 
of  the  i3d 
eredby  G 
The  sii 
adventure 
Magellan 
that  natio 
municatic 
predatory 
success,  e 


37 


eaded  straits  of 
as  this  accom- 
storm;  and  the 
oner  of  a  hun- 
ute  his  enter- 
Is  on  the  west- 

!es,  Drake  did 
ccupied  by  the 
I  either  on  land 
and  ships  with 
nipression  pro- 
.  century  after- 
ountries  with- 

ited  his  visita- 
>wn  of  Guatul- 
tiost  prudent  to 
at  he  might  be 
t  to  repass  the 
ific  to  the  East 
d  the  Cape  of 
(ft  Guatulco  on 
utly  westward, 
1,  he,  for  some 
sedition,  sailed 
ig  had  reached 
to  suffer  fjx)m 
ult,  if  not  im- 
Y  of  the  north- 
from  accident  \ 
merican  coast, 
dng  insecure, 
e  shore  to  the 
rbor  about  the 
rith  his  vessel 

g  their  vessel, 
je  in  prospect. 
5  in  crowds  to 
hostile  inten- 
the  kind  and 
pect  for  Drake 
in  about  to  de- 
them  as  their 
lertake  in  per- 
savages,  nev- 
ause  he  knew 
own  country, 
[ajesty  Queen 
M  the  country 
thereof  might 


so  conveniently  be  transported  for  the  enriching  of  her  kingdom  E>79' 
at  home."  The  investiture  accordingly  took  place  with  due  cer- 
emony, Drake  bestowing  upon  the  country  thus  legitunately 
added  to  the  English  dominions  the  name  of  New  Albion^  and 
erecting  on  the  shore  of  the  bay  a  monument  with  an  inscrip- 
tion commemorative  of  the  transfer. 

The  preparations  for  continuing  the  voyage  having  been  com- 
pleted, Drake  quitted  his  ne> '  mfJe  fellow-subjects,  to  their  great 
regret,  on  the  23d  of  July,  and,  steering  directly  across  the  Pa-  July  23. 
cific,  reached  the  vicinity  of  the  Philippme  Islands  in  sixty-eight  Sept.  39. 
days ;  thence  he  pursued  his  course  through  the  Indian  seas,  and 
around  the  southern  extremity  of  Africa  into  the  Atlantic,  and 
arrived  in  England,  with  his  booty  undiminished,  on  the  25th  of    1580. 
September,  1580.  ^^pt.  -25. 

With  regard  to  the  harbor  on  the  northwest  coast  of  America, 
in  which  the  English  repaired  their  vessel,  nothing  can  be  learned 
from  the  original  accounts  of  their  expedition,  except  that  it  was 
situated  between  the  38th  and  the  39th  parallels  of  latitude ;  and 
that  a  group  of  small  islands  was  found  in  the  ocean,  at  a  short 
distance  from  its  mouth :  whence  we  are  led  to  conclude  that 
it  was  either  the  Baif  of  San  FrawAsco,  or  another  bay  a  few 
miles  farther  north,  now  called  Port  BodK^a^  to  each  of  which  this 
description  applies.  As  to  the  extent  of  the  portion  of  that  coast 
seen  by  Drake,  the  accounts  are  at  variance.  In  the  earliest  and 
apparently  the  most  authentic  relations  and  notices  of  his  voyage, 
the  43d  degree  of  latitude  is  given  as  the  northern  limit  of  his 
course  in  the  Pacific-,  while  in  others,  of  later  date,  and  more 
questionable  authority,  it  is  maintained  that  he  examined  the 
whole  shore  of  the  continent  from  the  48th  parallel  to  the  38th. 
Burney,  in  his  History  of  Discoveries  in  the  Pacific,  (vol.  i,  page 
356,)  has  devoted  several  pages  to  the  subject.  He  there  pro- 
nounces that  "  tlie  part  of  the  American  coast  discovered  by  Drake 
is  to  be  reckoited  as  beginning  immediately  north  of  Cape  Mendo- 
cino, and  extending  to  the  48//i  degree  of  north  latitude ;"  and  this 
opinion  has  been  since  almostuniversally  adopted.  There  are,  how- 
ever, strong  reasons  for  rejecting  the  decision  of  Burney,  whose  re- 
view of  the  evidences  in  this,  as  in  all  cases  in  which  his  coun- 
trymen were  concerned,  is  entirely  ex  parte.  An  exposition  of 
these  reasons  would  require  more  space  than  could  be  with  propri- 
ety allotted  to  it  in  the  body  of  this  history  ;  it  has  therefore  been 
consigned  to  the  Appendix,  [A,]  and  the  conclusion  only  will  be 
here  presented,  which  is:  that  in  all  probability,  the  English  tin- 
der Drake,  in  1579,  sate  no  part  of  the  west  coast  of  America  north 
of  the  43rf  degree  of  latitude,  to  which  parallel  it  had  been  discov- 
ered by  Cabiillo  and  Ferrelo,  in  1543. 

The  success  of  Drake's  enterprise  encouraged  other  English  IN*, 
adventurers  to  attempt  similar  expeditions  through  the  Strait  of 
Magellan ;  and  it  likewise  served  to  stimulate  the  navigators  of 
that  nation,  in  their  efforts  to  discover  northern  passages  of  com- 
munication between  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  oceans.  Of  their 
predatory  excursions,  none  appear  to  have  been  attended  with 
success,  except  that  of  the  celebrated  Thomas  Cavendish,  or  Can- 


)t'-i 


I 


'lif 


ill 


m 


'ft 


38 


1587.  dish,  Avho,  during  his  circumnavigation  of  the  globe,  rendered ' 
his  name  almost  as  terrible  to  the  Spaniards  as  that  of  Drake,  by  | 
his  ravages  on  the  western  coasts  of  America.  In  this  voyage, 
Candish  lay  for  some  time  near  Cape  San  Lucas,  the  southern- 
Nor  15.  most  point  of  California,  and  there  captured  the  Santa  Annay  a  '^ 
Spanish  ship,  richly  laden,  on  her  way  from  Manilla  to  Acapulco, 
which  he  set  on  fire  after  plundering  her  and  landing  her  crew 
on  the  coast.  The  miserable  persons,  thus  abandoned  in  a  des- 
ert country,  must  soon  have  perished,  had  not  the  hull  of  their 
vessel,  after  the  extinction  of  the  fire  by  the  waves,  been  driven 
on  shore  in  their  vicinity ;  this  carcass  they  contrived  to  repair, 
so  as  to  render  it  sea- worthy,  and,  embarking  in  it,  they  succeeded 
in  reaching  a  Mexican  port.  Among  them  was  Juan  de  Fktca,  a 
Greek  pilot,  of  whose  subsequent  discoveries  on  the  northwest 
coast  of  America  an  account  will  be  given  in  the  next  following 
chapter. 


Fabulous  or 
the  Spani: 
tween  the 
1602— Est! 
Spaniards 

During 
enteenth 
exploring 
covering 
cific,  with 
the  south 
was,  as  tl 
by  these  e 
facilitate 
siness  thu 
of  the  sue 
jects  of  va 

The  eai 
to  have  b( 
tereal,  in  1 
two  ocear 
is,  known 
tainly,  abc 
foundland 
sible  that 
into  Huds 
considerec 
gin  or  has 
Anian,*th 
to  be  pers 
of  the  pas 
accomplisl 
Pacific,  aj 
Anian. 

The  nil 
navigable 


I     ..li^ 


•  The  Stn 
brothers  who 
lor  October,  I 
cause  the  nai 
end,  opening 
the  value  of 
took  place  in 
covered  until 


39 


CHAPTER    ir. 


!(■ 


fl 


Fabulous  or  uncertain  accounts  of  voyages  in  the  norih  Pacific — Apprehensions  of 
the  Spanish  Government  with  regard  to  the  discovery  of  northern  passages  be- 
tween the  Atlantic  and  the  Pacific — Voyages  of  Fuca  in  159"?,  and  Vizcaino,  in 
1602-^Establishmenis  of  the  Jesuits  in  California — First  colonies  planted  by  the 
Spaniards  on  the  western  side  of  California,  between  1769  and  1774. 

During  the  latter  years  of  the  sixteenth  and  the  first  of  the  sev- 
enteenth centuries,  the  navigators  of  England  were  engaged  in 
exploring  the  northwestern  coasts  of  the  Atlantic,  in  hopes  of  dis- 
covering some  passage  through  which  they  might  enter  the  Pa- 
cific, with  less  difficulty  and  loss  of  time  than  by  sailing  around 
the  southern  extremity  of  America.  The  Spanish  Government 
was,  as  the  historians  of  that  period  fiiUy  testify,  much  alarmed 
by  these  eflforts  of  its  most  hated  and  most  dangerous  enemies  to 
facilitate  communications  between  the  two  seas ;  and  the  unea- 
siness thus  occasioned  was  from  time  to  time  increased  by  rumors 
of  the  successful  issue  of  voyages  made  for  that  purpose  by  sub- 
jects of  various  European  nations. 

The  earliest  of  these  rumors  related  to  the  discovery  supposed 
to  have  been  made  by  the  celebrated  Portuguese,  Caspar  de  Cor- 
tereal,  in  1500,  of  a  passage  called  the  Strait  of  Anian^  uniting  the 
two  oceans,  north  of  that  part  of  America  which  was,  and  still 
is,  known  by  the  general  name  of  Labrador.  Cortereal  did  cer- 
tainly, about  the  year  last  mentioned,  explore  the  coasts  o(  New- 
foundland and  those  of  the  continent  in  its  vicinity ;  and  it  is  pos- 
sible that  he  may  aLo  have  penetrated  through  Hudson's  Strait 
into  Hudson's  Bay,  which  he  would  then  most  naturally  havff 
considered  as  a  western  ocean.  Whatever  may  have  been  the  ori- 
gin or  basis  of  the  rumor  respecting  the  discovery  of  the  Strait  of 
Anian,*  the  Spaniards  and  other  European  nations  long  continued 
to  be  persuaded  of  its  truth.  Expeditions  were  made  in  search 
of  the  passage ;  and  nearly  all  of  those  who  pretended  to  have 
accomplished  northern  voyages  between  the  Atlantic  and'  the 
Pacific,  asserted  that  they  had  sailed  by  way  of  the  Strait  of 
Anian. 

The  number  of  persons  who  claimed  the  merit  of  discovering 
navigable  passages  through  or  around  the  northern  parts  of  Amer- 


157J 

to 
HiS2. 


I 


!ll:il 


I,' 


r.n 


IKii 


♦  The  Strait  of  Anian  was  said  to  have  been  so  named  by  Cortereal,  after  two 
brothers  who  sailed  with  him.  The  author  of  an  article  in  the  London  duartcrly 
lor  October,  181ti,  conceives  that  the  passage  was  more  probably  thus  denominated,  be- 
cause the  navigator  "  deemed  it  to  be  the  eastern  extremity  of  a  strait,  whose  western 
end,  opening  into  the  Pacific,  had  already  received  that  name."  Ii\  order  to  show 
the  value  of  this  conception,  it  is  only  necessary  to  observe  that  Cortereal's  voyage 
took  place  in  1500,  and  that  the  ocean  on  the  western  bide  of  America  was  not  dis- 
covered until  thirteen  years  afl«rwards. 


M 


,;    j|ii| 


ir.75 
111 


M 


40 

ica  at  the  period  here  referred  to,  appears  to  have  been  consider- 
able. The  chroniclers  of  the  time  have  preseiTed  the  names  of 
several ;  and  although  their  stories  are  now  known  to  have  been 
as  lalse  as  tliose  respecting  the  acquisition  of  the  philosopher's 
stone,  or  the  elixir  of  life,  yet  some  of  them  should  be  noticed, 
on  account  of  the  influence  which  they  exerted  upon  the  progress 
of  research  in  the  northwestern  part  of  the  New  World. 

The  most  celebrated  fable  of  this  class,  is  the  one  of  which  a 
Portuguese,  named  Lorenzo  Ferrer  de  Mak/onado,  is  the  hero. 
He  is  said  to  have  sailed  from  the  Atlantic,  in  1588,  through  a 
strait  communicating  with  that  sea  near  the  62d  degree  of  north 
latitude,  into  the  Pacific,  which  he  entered  by  a  very  narrow 
opening  situated  under  the  60th  parallel ;  having,  in  the  course 
of  this  navigation,  been  obliged  to  proceed  as  far  north  as  the 
75th  degree.  This  supposed  voyage  is  mentioned  by  several 
Spanish  authors  of  the  seventeenth  century.  It  was  however 
tbrgotten,  and  remained  in  oblivion,  until  1790,  when  it  was  again 
brought  before  the  world  by  an  eminent  French  geographer,  M. 
Buache,who  endeavored  to  establish  the  truth  of  the  most  mate- 
rial parts  of  the  statement,  in  a  memoir  read  by  him  before  the 
Academy  of  Sciences  of  Paris.  In  consequence  of  his  observa- 
tions, the  Spanish  Government  ordered  the  commanders  of  the 
vessels  which  were  in  that  year  sent  to  explore  the  northwest 
coasts  of  America,  to  search  for  the  western  extremity  of  the  strait. 
Thev  did  so,  but  in  vain  ;  and  it  is  now  certain  that  no  such  pas- 
sage exists.  With  regard  to  the  origin  of  the  story,  Navarrete  in- 
forms us  that  a  person  named  Maldonado,  an  unprincipled  ad- 
venturer, who  had  written  some  works  on  geography,  presented 
to  the  Council  of  the  Indies,  in  Spain,  a  narrative  or  memoir  of  a 
voyage  which  he  pretended  to  have  made  at  the  time,  and  in  the 
manner  above  related,  accompanied  by  a  petition  that  he  might 
be  rewarded  for  his  discovery,  and  intrusted  with  the  command 
offerees,  in  order  to  occupy  and  defend  the  passage  against  other 
nations.  Navarrete  adds,  that  this  proposition  was  rejected  by 
the  Council,  but  that  the  papers  respecting  it  were  retained,  and 
are  still  preserved  arnong  the  Archives  of  the  Indies.  In  1812, 
Signor  Carlo  Amoretti,  of  Milan,  found  in  the  Ambrosian  library  a 
Spanish  manuscript,  purporting  to  be  a  copy  of  this  same  narra- 
tive or  memoir,  and  published  a  translation  of  it  in  French,  with 
notes  and  commentaries  in  support  of  the  assertions  of  the  writer. 
Whether  the  said  manuscript  be  indeed  a  copy  of  that  presented 
by  Maldonado  to  the  Spanish  Government,  or  not,  is  a  question 
as  yet  unsolved;  and  it  is,  moreover,  a  question  which  may  as 
well  remain  without  solution,  as  the  subject  no  longer  possesses 
any  claim  to  attention.  Equally  useless  is  it  at  the  present  day 
to  inquire  whether  or  not  this  Maldonado*  made  a  voyage  in  the 


•  The  queslion  as  to  the  truth  of  the  story  of  Maldonado's  voyage  is  discussed  in 
the  introduction  to  the  account  of  the  expedition  of  the  Sutil  and  Mexicana,  and  in 
the  London  Cluarterly  Review  for  October,  1816.  The  article  in  the  Review  is  well 
written,  but  filled  with  inaccuracies  in  all  that  relates  to  the  Pacific.  The  writer 
considers  the  accouat  translated  by  Amoretti  to  be  the  fabrication  of  some  German. 


north  Paci 
has  been  i 
ported  by 

No  less 
miral  Ped 
seas  and  r 
date  than 
a  periodic 
the  Ciirioi 
to  this  sto 
north  Pac 
American 
these  islai 
of  53  deg; 
which  he 
interior  of 
islands, 
infer)  dow 
he  at  leng 
She  prov( 
setts ;  and 
had  arrive 
port.  Bei 
connexior 
section  of 
then  saile 
Pacific. 

Theabt 
will  be  si 
long,  and 
sistencies 
credit.  I 
true,  or  pe 
in  1797, b 
rative  of  1 
ber  of  isla 
Lazaro,  ii 
story  may 
part  of  th 
absurd  fal 
ernmeat  i 


*  Viz;  wf 
published  in 
a  manusef  ip 
Maldonado, 
taken  fromy 
Che  Pacific. 

t  The  wh 
of  Voyngjes  i 
The  siDPy  Ik 

t  IntrJiluc 


II 


en  consider- 
the  names  of 
to  have  been 
philosopher's 

be  noticed, 
the  progress 
Hd. 

!  of  which  a 

is  the  hero. 

8,  through  a 

»ree  of  north 

very  narrow 

tlie  course 
north  as  the 
I  by  several 
vas  however 
it  was  again 
ographer,  M. 
e  most  mate- 
n  before  the 
his  observa- 
mders  of  the 
le  northwest 
'■of  the  strait, 
no  such  pas- 
Navarrete  in- 
rincipled  ad- 
tiy,  presented 
r  memoir  of  a 
e,  and  in  the 
iiat  he  might 
;he  command 
against  other 
3  rejected  by 
retained,  and 
Bs.  In  1812, 
sian  Ubrary  a 
s  same  narra- 
French,  with 
of  the  writer, 
hat  presented 
is  a  question 
i^hich  may  as 
ger  possesses 
J  present  day 
iroyage  in  the 


?e  is  discussed  in 
VIexicana,  and  in 
le  Review  is  well 
ific.  The  writer 
of  some  Qerman. 


'm 


41 

north  Pacific  as  far  as  Beering's  Strait,  the  discovery  of  which 
has  been  ascribed  to  him,  upon  evidence  the  most  slender,  sup- 
ported by  presumptions  the  most  gratuitous.* 

No  less  destitute  of  truth  is  the  story  of  the  expedition  of  Ad- 
miral Pedro  Fonte,  from  Peru  to  the  Atlantic,  through  northern 
seas  and  rivers;  which  is,  however, to  be  referred  to  a  much  later 
date  than  that  of  the  voyage  of  Maldonado,  as  it  first  appeared  in 
a  periodical  work  entitled  *'  Monthly  Miscellany^  or  Memoirs  of 
the  Curious, ^^  published  at  London  in  June,  itOS.f  According 
to  this  story,  the  admiral  sailed  from  Callao  in  April,  1640,  to  the 
north  Pacific,  where  he  discovered  a  group  of  islands  near  the 
American  continent,  named  by  him  Mas  de  San  Lazaro.  Among 
these  islands  he  proceeded  260  leagues,  and  then,  in  the  latitude 
of  53  degrees,  he  entered  a  river  called  by  him  Rio  de  los  Reyes, 
which  he  ascended  in  a  northeasterly  direction,  penetrating  the 
interiorof  America,  until  he  reached  a  great  lake  containing  many 
islands.  There  he  left  his  ships,  and  going  (in  boats,  we  are  to 
infer)  down  another  river  which  flowed  firom  the  lake  eastwardly , 
he  at  length  came  to  a  sea,  where  he  li)und  a  large  ship  at  anchor. 
She  proved  to  be  a  trading-vessel  from  Boston,  in  Massachu- 
setts ;  and  her  commander,  Shapley,  informed  the  admiral  that  he 
had  arrived  at  his  actual  position  by  a  northern  coarse  from  that 
port.  Being  thus  convinced  of  the  existence  of  an  uninterrupted 
connexion  by  water  between  the  two  oceans,  across  the  northern 
section  of  America,  the  Spaniards  returned  to  their  ships,  and 
then  sailed  back  to  Pem,  through  the  Rio  de  los  Reyes  and  the 
Pacific. 

The  above  sketch  of  the  supposed  expedition  of  Admiral  Fonte 
will  be  sufficient  for  present  purposes.  The  original  account  is 
long,  and  is  filled  with  confused  and  trifling  details,  the  incon- 
sistencies in  which  should  have  prevented  it  from  receiving  any 
credit.  It  was,  however,  for  some  time  generally  believed  to  be 
true,  or  partly  true ;  and  its  probability  was  maintained  so  lately  as 
in  1797,  by  the  scientific  Fleurieu,in  his  Introduction  to  the  Nar- 
rative of  Marchand's  Voyage.  The  fact  of  the  existence  o^  a  num- 
ber of  islands  in  the  situation  assigned  to  the  Arehipelaj:0  of  San 
Lazaro,  indeed,  affl)rds  some  reason  for  the  assumption  that  the 
story  may  have  been  founded  on  disco veiles  really  made  in  that 
part  of  the  Pacific.  NavarreteJ  treats  the  whole  account  as  an 
absurd  fabrication ;  and  takes  the  opportunity  to  defend  the  Gov- 
ernment of  his  country  from  the  charge  brought  against  it  by 


♦  Vi/.i  upon  a  passaije  in  the  Bibliotheca  Hispana-Nova,  of  Nicolas  Anlonio, 
published  in  iti7*2,  to  the  effect  thai  the  am  hor  had  seen  in  the  possession  of  a  bishop, 
a  manuscf  ipt  account  of  the  discnverij  of  the  Strait  of  Anian,  by  Lorenzo  Ferrer  de 
MaUlonado,  in  LOSS  This  i)assage,  and  an  abstract  of  the  relation  of  Maldonado, 
taken  fromAmoretii's  put>1ication,  may  be  found  in  Burney's  History  of  Voyages  in 
the  Pacific,  vol.  v,  page  16(>-.  the  abstract  is  in  the  appendix  [B]  to  this  memoir. 

t  The  whole  accoim'  of  this  pretendeil  voyage  may  be  found  in  Bnrney's  Histoiy 
of  Voyages  in  the  Pacific,  vol.  iii,  pagi?  lH5;and  in  Oohhs's  Hisiory  of  Hudson's  Bay. 
The  story  belongs  to  ihe  class  of  fictions  now  commonly  called  hoaxes. 

t  Introductioa  to  the  Narrative  of  the  Voyage  of  the  Sutil  and  Me.xicana,  page  7tf. 


1575 

t0 


1010. 


I:      ! 


I' 


1 

i\ 


m. 


m 


1    ii 


0  )i 


42 

Pleurieu,  of  concealing  the  results  of  attempts  made  by  its  orders 
to  explore  unknown  seas  and  regions. 

One  other  account  of  a  supposed  voyage  from  the  Pacific  to  the 
Atlantic  remains  to  be  noticed  ;,  which  should  not,  however,  be 
classed  with  those  above  mentioned,  although  it  is  certainly  er- 
roneous as  regards  the  most  material  point,  and  was  probably 
known  to  be  so  by  the  original  narrator.    All  the  information  as 
yet  obtained  respecting  this  voyage  may  be  found  in  a  note*  or 
declaration  written  by  Michael  l-iock,  an  English  merchant  or 
agent  in  the  Levant  trade,  and  published  under  his  name,  in  1629, 
in  the  celebrated  geographical  and  historical  collection  called  "  the 
Pilgrims,"  by  Samuel  Purchas. 
1593.        From  Mr.  Lock's  declaration,  it  appears  that,  in  1596,  he  met 
at  Venice  an  aged  Greek,  calling  himself  Apostolos  ValerianoSy 
who  stated,  that  he  had  been  employed  for  more  than  forty  years, 
under  the  name  of  Juan  de  Piica,  as  seaman  and  pilot  in  the 
Spanish  service ;  that  he  had  been  one  of  the  crew  of  the  Ma- 
nilla ship  Santa  Anna,  plundered  by  Cavendish  near  the  coast  of 
California,  in  1587,  on  which  occasion  he  had  lost  property  of 
his  own  to  the  value  of  sixty  thousand  ducats  ;  and  that  he  had 
subsequently,  in  1592,  acted  as  pilot  in  a  voyage,  made  by  order 
of  the  Viceroy  of  Mexico,  in  search  of  "the  Straights  of  Anian, 
and  the  passage  thereof  into  the  North  sea."  In  this  voyage,  as  he 
said, "  he  followed  his  course  west  and  northwest,  along  the  coasts 
of  Mexico  and  California,  as  far  as  the  47  th  degree  of  latitude ;"  be- 
tween which  parallel  and  the  48th,  he  entered  "  a  broad  inlet  of  the 
sea,  and,  sailing  tlierein  more  than  twenty  days,  he  found  the 
land  trending  some  time  northwest  and  northeast,  and  north,  and 
also  east  and  southeast,  and  very  much  broader  sea  than  was  at 
the  entrance ;  and  he  passed  by  divers  islands  in  that  sailing. 
Being  entered  thus  far  into  the  said  straight,  and  being  come  into 
the  Noj'th  sea  [the  Atlantic]  already ^  and  finding  the  sea  Avide 
enough  everywhere,  it  being  about  thirty  or  forty  leagues  broad 
at  the  mouth  of  the  straights  where  he  entered,  he  thought  he 
had  well  discharged  his  office,  and,  not  being  armed  to  resist  sav- 
ages, he  set  sail,  and  returned  homeward  again  to  Acapulco." 
The  Greek  added,  that  neither  the  Viceroy  of  Mexico  nor  the 
Spanish  Government  had  rewarded  him  for  this  service, "  and 
understanding  of  the  noble  mind  of  the  Queen  of  England,  and 
of  her  wars  maintained  so  valiantly  against  the  Spaniards,  and 
hoping  that  her  Majesty  would  do  him  justice  for  his  goods  lost 
by  Captain  Candish,  he  Avould  be  content  to  go  to  England 
and  serve  her  Majesty  in  a  voyage  for  the  perfect  discovery  of  the 
northwest  passage  into  the  South  sea,  and  would  pu*  his  life  into 
her  Majesty's  hands,  to  perform  the  same,  if  she  w  juld  furnish 
him  with  only  one  ship  of  forty  tons  burthen,  and  a  pinnace ;  and 


♦  "A  note  made  by  me,  Michael  Lock  the  elder,  touching  the  strait  of  sea  com- 
monly called  Fietum  Anian,  in  the  South  sea,  through  the  northwest  passage  of 
Meta  Incognita."— Pitre/ws'.?  Pilpims:  London,  1()2.^,  vol.  iii,  p.  840.  The  whole 
account  will  be  found  in  the  appenilix  [C]  to  this  racDwir. 


i  that  he  woi 
other,  in  th; 
Mr.  Lock 
quence,  to 
and  had  hel 
persons  in  '. 
gives  the  ci 
proposed  en 
no  willingn 
probably.,  as 
pose  of  adv 
quired  in  ( 
and  when  ] 

I  of  Cephaloi 
These  ar 
Fuca,  and 
corded  by  I 
endorsemer 
period  alluc 
lars;  and  i 
any  other  s 
was  made. 
The  accoui 
to  have  be* 
the  publict 
(178.1,)  wh 
northwest  ( 
sequent  dis 
served  to  t 
correctness 

I  that  his  gee 

^  the  truth  i 
'^^  Fuca  says 
entered  a  l 
days,  the 
and  east  an 
merous  isla 
parallels,  a 
apparently 
about  one  li 
and,  contin 
miles  farth* 
municates 
The  disc 
are  certainl 
of  the  Gree 
stance  that 
on  the  othe 
to  be  fairly 
the  subjecl 
pilot  as  fals 
performed  ( 


40 


11'] 


'oyage,  as  he     1 


■i 


that  he  would  perform  it,  from  one  end  of  the  straights  to  the 
other,  in  thirty  days  time." 

Mr.  Lock  goes  on  to  say  that  he  had  endeavored,  in  conse- 
quence, to  interest  the  Government  of  his  country  in  the  affair; 
and  had  held  correspondence  on  the  subject  with  various  eminent 
persons  in  England,  as  also  with  Juan  de  Fuca,  from  whom  he 
gives  the  copy  of  a  letter  stating  his  readiness  to  engage  in  the 
proposed  enterprise.  The  English  Government,  however,  showed 
no  willingness  to  favor  the  project ;  considering  the  whole  story, 
probably^  as  a  fabrication  on  the  part  of  the  old  Greek  for  the  pur- 
pose of  advancing  his  own  interests.  The  hundred  pounds  re- 
quired in  order  to  bring  him  to  London  could  not  be  raised  i 
and  when  Mr.  Lock  last  heard  of  him,  he  was  dying  in  the  island 
of  Cephalonia,  in  1602. 

These  are  the  most  material  circumstances  relative  to  Juan  de 
Fuca,  and  his  supposed  discoveries  in  the  northern  seas,  as  re- 
corded by  Mr.  Lock,  and  transmitted  to  us  with  the  respectable 
endorsement  of  Purchas.  Several  English  writers  of  the  same 
period  allude  to  the  subject,  but  they  afford  no  additional  particu- 
lars ;  and  nothing  whatsoever  has  hitherto  been  obtained  from 
any  other  source,  tending  to  prove  directly  that  such  a  voyage 
was  made,  or  that  sucli  a  person  as  Juan  de  Fuca  ever  existed. 
The  account  appears  to  have  obtained  no  credit  in  England;  and 
to  have  been  almost  unknown  out  of  that  kingdom,  until  after 
the  publication  of  the  journals  of  the  last  expedition  of  Cook, 
(1785,)  who  conceived  that  he  had,  by  his  examinations  on  the 
northwest  coast  of  America,  ascertained  its  entire  falsehood.  Sub- 
sequent discoveries  in  that  part  of  the  world  have,  however, 
served  to  establish  a  strong  probability  in  favor  of  the  general 
correctness  of  the  old  Greek's  assertions ;  inasmuch  as  they  show 
that  his  geographical  descriptions  are  as  nearly  conformable  with 
the  truth  as  those  of  any  other  navigator  of  his  day.  Thus 
Fuca  says  that  between  the  47th  and  48th  degrees  of  latitude  he 
entered  a  broad  inlet  of  sea,  through  which  he  sailed  for  twenty 
days,  the  land  trending  northwest  and  northeast,  and  north, 
and  east  and  southeast ;  and  that  in  his  course  he  passed  by  nu- 
merous islands.  Now  the  fact  is,  that,  between  the  48th  and  49th 
parallels,  a  broad  inlet  of  sea  extends  from  the  Pacific  eastward, 
apparently  penetrating  the  American  continent,  to  the  distance  of 
about  one  hundred  miles;  after  which,  it  turns  northwest  by-west, 
and,  continuing  in  that  direction  about  two  hundred  and  fifty 
miles  farther,  crossed  and  divided  by  many  islands,  it  again  com- 
municates with  the  Pacific. 

The  discrepancies  here  to  be  observed  are  few  and  slight,  and 
are  certainly  all  within  the  limits  of  supposable  error  on  the  part 
of  the  Greek,  especially  when  his  advanced  age,  and  the  circum- 
stance that  he  spoke  only  from  recollection,  are  considered ;  while, 
on  the  other  hand,  the  coincidences  are  too  great  and  too  striking 
to  be  fairly  attributable  to  chance.  Of  those  who  have  examined 
the  subject,  some  have  rejected  the  whole  account  given  by  the 
pilot  as  false;  others,  on  the  contrary,  maintain  not  only  that  he 
performed  the  voyage  as  stated,  but  that  he  was  even  convinced  of 


1598. 


I 


t 


mi 

i 


hi 


? 


>'\' 


>  !i 


44 


i   I 


I"** 


m 


I 


J 


151)5. 


ic:)t>. 


1592.  his  h  iving  reached  the  Atlantic  in  the  course  of  it.  A  mean  be- 
tween the  two  opinions*  seems  to  bo  the  most  reasonable  con- 
clusion. It  should  ho  admitted  that  Fuca  entered  the  strait 
now  bearing  his  name,  and  that  he  may  have  passed  entirely 
through  it ;  but  that  he,  an  experienced  navigator,  should  have 
conceived  that  by  sailing  thirtu  lenfvnes  emt,  and  then  eifffiiif 
leagues  nortfiwest-lry-west,  he  had  arrived  in  the  Atlantic,  is  wholly 
incredible. 

This  will  suffice  with  regard  to  the  voyage  of  Fuca,  the  tnitli 
or  falsehood  of  which  is,  at  the  present  day,  a  question  of  little  or 
no  moment. 

Some  reports  of  the  discovery  of  a  northern  passage  between 
the  Atlantic  and  the  Pacific,  and  of  the  existence  of  rich  nations  in 
tliat  direction,  induced  the  Spanish  Government,  about  the  year 
^595,  to  order  that  measures  should  be  taken  to  ascertain  the  lacts 
on  those  subjects.  The  Count  de  Monterey,  Viceroy  of  Mexico, 
accordingly  fitted  out  three  vessels,  which  were  despatched  (torn 
Aeapulco  in  the  spring  of  1596,  under  the  command  of  Sebastian 
Vizcaino,  a  soldier  well  acquainted  with  marine  affairs.  Nothing 
important,  however,  was  gained  by  this  expedition.  Vizcaino 
did  not  proceed  beyond  the  limits  of  the  Gulf  of  California;  and, 
being  disappointed  in  his  attempts  to  fiirin  establishments  on  the 
shores  of  that  sea,  he  returned  to  Mexico  before  the  end  of  the 
same  year. 

Other  and  more  peremptory  orders  for  the  immediate  survey 
and  settlement  of  the  western  coast  of  California  were  received 
by  the  Viceroy  of  Mexico,  from  Madrid,  in  1599 ;  and  he,  in  con- 
sequence, began  preparations  for  an  expedition,  on  a  greater  and 
more  complete  scale  of  equipment  than  any  of  those  previously 
made  in  that  direction.  Two  large  ships  and  a  small  vessel  were 
provided  for  the  purpose  at  Acapulco,  and  furnished  with  all  the 
requisites  for  a  long  voyage  of  discovery ;  and,  in  addition  to  their 
regular  crews,  a  numbernf  pilots,  priests,  draughtsmen,  and  other 
proper  persons,  were  engaged,  composing,  together,  saysTorque- 
n)aaa,t  "  the  most  enlightened  corps  ever  raised  in  New  Spain." 
The  navigation  was  placed  umler  the  direction  of  Toribio  Gomez 
dti  Ccrvau,  us  admiral ;  but  the  command  of  the  whole  force  was 
intrusted  to  Sebastian  Vizcaino,  who  bore  the  title  of  Captain 
General  of  California. 

The  vessels  sailed  from  Acapulco  on  the  5th  of  May,  1602,  and. 
having  reached  tht-  western  side  of  California  before  the  middle 
Jiiiii-  J*  orf  the  Ibllowing  month,  the  survey  was  immediately  commenced 
from  Cape  San  Lucas,  the  southern  extremity  of  the  peninsula. 


lC)f?-2 
^iav  5. 


Ill:  (.1! 


•  It  is  needless  to  quote  the  opinions  ol'  Forsler  or  Flcurieu,  as  ihey  both  wrote  be- 
fore the  publication  of  the  Journals  of  Vancouver,  by  whori  the  p.i.ssnge  now  cnlleii 
the  Strnit  of  Fuca  was  explored.  Navarrele  oimslilers  the  account  of  the  piloi'> 
Voyage  false,  because  he  can  find  no  mention  o(  it  among  the  Archives  of  the  Indies, 
oi  in  the  old  Spanish  historians;  and  Humboldt,  as  usual,  contents  himself  with 
adopting  the  conclusions  of  Navarrete. 

t  Monarquia  Indiana,  vol.  i,  page  (i94.  Torquemada's  account  is  abridged  from 
the  journal  of  Friar  Antonio  de  la  Ascension,  the  chaplain  of  the  admiral's  ship. 
It  contains  little  respecting  the  movements  of  tlie  other  two  ve.ssels. 


iThe  prosecii 

ficulties;  tli 

Spaniards  h 

'.   winds,  whic 

\  coast.     Vizf 

I  he  was  oblij. 

'  the  adjaceu 

amount  of  i 

notes,  plans 

among  the  t 

By  the  be 

pulco,  the  8 

gree  of  latiti 

Port  San  I) 

I  bor  under  tl 

no,  every  re 

suppiy  and 

%  On  this  pla 

Viceroy,  to 

i  urging  the  t 

1  indicated. 

From  Mc 

Avith  the  ai 

Martin  de  . 

the  7th  the 

they  were  t 

separated. 

where  scan 

tin,  which 

in  1595  ;t  i 

yond  Cape 

dom  by  the 

high  white 

(fe  San  Scl 

the  latitude 

sons  on  bo 

not  appear, 

to  direct  h 

done,  and  i 

only  three 

The  sm 

northward 

of  43  degi 

cape  or  poi 

coast  begii 

rapid  and  i 


1 


A  mean  be- 
isonable  con- 
•ed  the  strait 
issod  entirely 
should  hnve 
I  then  eifrhtij 
itic,  is  wholly 

uca,  the  truth 
ion  of  little  or , 

sage  between 
ich  nations  in 
bout  the  year 
rtain  the  facts 
oy  of  Mexico, 
spatched  from 
1  of  Sebastian 
iirs.  Nothing 
an.  Vizcaino 
Llifornia;  and, 
nncnts  on  the 
ie  end  of  the 

ediate  survey 
were  received 
lid  he,  in  con- 
1  a  greater  and 
»se  previously 
dl  vessel  were 
id  with  all  the 
Idition  to  their 
nen,  and  other 
,  says  Torque - 
New  Spain." 
Horibio  Gomez 
iiole  force  was 
le  of  Captain 

:ay,  1602,  and. 
re  the  middle 
y  commenced 
the  peninsula. 


liey  both  wrote  be- 
.i.xsnge  now  called 
)nnt  of  the  piloiV 
ives  of  the  Indies, 
ents  himself  Willi 

t  is  abridged  from 
le  admiral's  ship. 


4M 

ilThe  prosecution  of  the  undertaking  \va.s  attended  with  great  dif  mgo. 
culties;  the  scurvy  soon  appeared  in  the  squadron,  and  the 
Spaniards  had  their  perseverance  put  to  the  test  by  the  northwest 
winds,  which  almost  constantly  opposed  their  progress  along  the 
coast.  Vizcaino,  however,  made  the  best  use  of  the  time  which 
he  was  obliged  to  spend  in  harbors,  by  examining  the  shores  and 
the  adjacent  inland  territories ;  and  he  thus  collected  a  large 
amount  of  valuable  information  on  thost  subjects,  in  the  torm  of 
notes,  plans,  and  sketches,  which  are  said  to  lie  still  mouldering 
among  the  archives  of  the  Spanish  Government.* 

By  the  beginning  of  December,  after  their  departure  from  Aca-     De*:. 
pnlco,  the  ships  had  advanced  no  farther  north  than  the  32d  de- 
gree of  latitude,  near  which  a  good  harbor  was  found,  and  named 
Port  San  Dieffo.    Proceeding  onwards,  they  reached  another  har- 
bor under  the  37th  parallel,  combining,  in  the  opinion  of  Vizcai- 
no, every  requisite  for  the  maintenance  of  a  colony,  and  for  the 
suppiy  and  repairs  of  vessels  on  their  way  from  India  to  Mexico. 
'  On  this  place  he  bestowed  the  name  oi'  Monterey,  in  honor  of  the 
i  Viceroy,  to  whom  he  immediately  sent  letters  by  one  of  his  ships, 
I  urging  the  establishment  of  colonies  and  garrisons  at  several  jwinls 
indicated. 

From  Monterey,  the  rei.  aining  ship  in  which  Vizcaino  sailed     IGO.'J 
with  the  admiral,  and  the  small  vessel  commanded  by  ensign 
Martin  de  Aguilar,  departed  on  the  3d  of  .January,  1603,  and  by 
the  7th  they  had  reached  the  vicinity  of  Gape  Mendocino,  when 
they  were  driven  back  by  a  violent  gale,  during  which  they  were 
separated.     The  ship  took  refuge  in  the  Bay  of  San  Francisco,  .inn.  10. 
where  search  was  made  in  vain  for  the  wreck  of  the  San  Angus- 
tin,  which  had  been  lost  there  while  tm  her  voyage  from  Manilla, 
in  1595  ;t  she,  however,  soon  got  to  sea  again,  and,  passing  be-  Jan.  13. 
yoiid  Cape  Mendocino,  was  for  several  days  tossed  about  at  ran- 
dom by  the  storms.     On  the  20th  of  January  she  was  opposite  a   jim.  20. 
high  white  promontory,  which  received  the  name  of  Cape  Blauro 
(le  San  Sebastian,  and  was  found  by  a  solar  observation  to  be  in 
the  latitude  of  42  degrees.     By  this  time  there  were  but  six  per 
sons  on  board  capable  of  doing  duty ;  and  as  the  small  vessel  did 
not  appear,  Vizcaino,  with  the  assent  of  the  other  officers,  resolved 
to  direct  his  course  towards  the  sonth.     This  was  accordingly 
done,  and  the  ship  entered  Acapulco  on  the  21st  of  March,  with 
only  three  effective  men  among  her  crew. 

The  small  vessel,  after  her  separation  from  the  ship,  sailed  Jan.  10. 
northward  for  some  distance  along  the  coast,  as  far  as  the  latitude 
of  43  degrees,  "  where,"  says  Torquemada,  "  the  land  forms  a 
cape  or  point,  which  was  called  Cape  Blanco,  and  from  which  the 
coast  begins  to  run  to  the  northwest;  and  near  it  was  found  a 
rapid  and  abundant  river,  with  ash  trees,  willows,  brambles,  and 


*  Introduction  to  the  JoninRl  of  the  Sulil  and  Mexicana,  page  fiS.  A  chart  of  the 
west  const  of  Cali.orni;'.,  ns  far  north  as  Cape  Mendocino,  was  compiled  from  these 
dociiinenis,  of  which  a  copy  may  be  found  in  the  atlas  of  the  work  above  mentioned. 

t  As  before  mentioned  at  page  34. 


ill 


^;ti: 


Iff, 


'! 


IH 


:fl 


III  4 

i 


i,  I'' 


46 


IGOS. 


t 


*  ., 


i'M 


I60G. 


ICOD. 


otluT  Oustilian  trcos,  on  its  hnnks ;  but  it  rould  not  bo  entered  on 
account  of  the  strength  of  its  current."    From  this  point  Aguilar 
turned  to  the  sotith ;  his  vessel  reached  Acapuico,  but  he  und  nil' 
the  other  olRcers,  and  many  of  the  men,  died  of  scurvy  on  the ' 
voyage  thitlier. 

Considerable  doubts  have  been  cast,  and  not  without  reason, 
upn  the  accuracy  of  the  account  of  Aguilar's  discoveries  beyond 
(Jape  Mendocino.  It  is  certainly  incorrect  on  one  point,  for  wo 
know  that  the  coast  does  not  *'  begin  to  turn  towanls  the  north- 
west" at  the  43d  degree  of  latitude,  or  at  any  other  point  between 
C'upe  Mendocino  and  the  47th  degree.  Moreover,  it  is  scarcely 
credible  that  Aguihu"  should,  at  so  stormy  a  season,  and  with  so 
inefficient  a  crew,  have  ventured  so  near  to  a  lee  sliore,  entirely 
unknown  to  him,  as  to  be  able  to  distinguish,  withmit  affUtss*  the 
species  of  the  trees  growing  on  it.  Tlie  great  river  which  he  is 
said  to  have  found  about  the  43d  degree  of  latitude  has  not  yet 
been  identified  ;  although  several  streams,  none  of  them  large,  do 
certainly  enter  the  Pacific  near  that  parallel.  The  account  of  the 
discovery  of  this  river  has  attracted  much  more  attention  than  it 
merited,  or  than  the  unfortunate  Aguilar  (if  he  actiuilly  saw  such 
a  stream)  could  have  anticipated,  in  consequence  of  an  idle  opin- 
ion expressed,  or  rather  recorded,  by  Torqucniada,  that  it  might 
prove  to  be  the  long-sought  Strait  of  Anian,  or  might  lead  to  the 
wealthy  city  of  Quivira,  believed  to  exist  in  that  part  of  the  world. 
The  Cape  Blanco  mentioned  as  the  northern  Innit  of  Aguilar's 
progress  along  the  coast,  is  supposed  by  Cook  to  be  a  remarkable 
promontory,  situated  under  the  43d  parallel,  to  which  the  Knglish 
navigator,  however,  did  not  scruple  to  apply  the  name  of  Cape 
Gregorij.  In  like  manner,  Vancouver  has  bestowed  the  appella- 
tion of  Cape  Orford  upon  another  great  projection  from  the  con- 
tinent, near  the  42J  degree,  although  he  considered  it  to  be 
identical  with  the  Cape  Blanco  do  San  Sebastian  of  Vizcaino. 

Upon  comparing  tlie  accounts  of  tliis  expedition  with  those  of  | 
the  voyage  of  Cabrillo,  in  l.')42-'3,  it  will  be  seen  tliat  the  same, 
or  nearly  the  same,  portions  of  the  west  coast  of  America,  were 
observed  on  both  occasions;  and  that  Vizcaino,  consequently,  did 
no  more  than  survey  minutely  what  had  been  already  discovered 
by  his  predecessors. 

Vizcaino  endeavored,  after  his  return  to  Mexico,  to  prevail  upon 
the  Viceroy  to  establish  colonies  and  garrisons  at  San  Diego,  Mon- 
terey, and  other  points  on  the  coast  which  he  had  surveyed,  for 
the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  trade  with  India,  as  well  as  to  pre- 
vent the  occupation  of  that  coast  by  other  naticms.  His  eflforts 
being  unavailing  in  Mexico,  he  went  to  Spain,  where  he  finally 
obtained  from  King  Philip  III.  royal  orders  for  the  execution 
of  his  projects.  He,  however,  unfortunately  died  in  Mexico  in 
1609,  while  engaged  in  preparing  for  the  enterprise ;  and  no  farther 
measures  were  taken,  either  by  individu-'.l  Spaniards  or  by  tlieir 


♦  The  invention  of  the  lei  scope  took  place  in  IG09. 


47 


bo  entered  on 
point  Aguilnr, 
but  he  und  all 
scurvy  on  the 

ithout  reason, 
vories  beyond 
point,  for  wo 
nls  the  north- 
point  between 
it  is  scarcely 
1,  and  with  so 
shore,  entirely 
it  a  fflass,*  tlie 
er  which  he  is 
lo  has  not  yet 
them  large,  do 
account  of  the 
tention  thon  it 
lally  saw  such 
fan  idle  onin- 
,  that  it  might 
i;ht  load  to  the 
•tof  the  world, 
it  of  Aguilar's 
3  a  remarkable 
;h  the  English 
name  of  Cape 
3d  the  appella- 
from  the  con- 
lered  it  to  be 
f  Vizcaino. 
I  with  those  of 
that  the  same, 
America,  were 
sequently,  did 
idy  discovered 

0  prevail  upon 
n  bif'go,  Mon- 
surveyed,  for 
ft'ell  as  to  pre- 
.  His  efforts 
ere  he  finally 
the  execution 
in  Mexico  in 
and  no  further 
Is  or  by  their 


\^ 


vernment,  to  settle  the  west  coast  of  California,  or  to  extend  the 

tits  of  discovery  in  that  direction,  until  l(i()  years  afterwards. 

This  part  of  America  remained,  in  the  mean  time,  almost  for- 

tton,  except  by  {)ersons  engaged  in  the  navigation  from  India 

Mexico,  who  wore  obliged  to  make  themselves  acquainted  with 

.e  situation  of  the  princinal  headlands  and  islands*  s«)uth  of 

ape  Mendocino.    One  of  these  navigators  brought  to  Mexico,  in 

20,  an  account  of  a  channel  which  he  pretended  to  have  dis- 

vored  near  the  43d  parallel  of  latitude,  coiniecting  the  (Jiulf  of 

aliliirnia  with  the  Pacific ;  and,  as  this  statement  correspjonded 

ith  that  of  the  discovery  of  a  great  river  at  the  same  position  by 

artin  do  Aguilar,  it  was  readily  received  as  true.    Accordingly, 

all  maps  of  this  part  of  the  world,  published  during  the  re- 

ainder  of  the  seventeenth  century,  California  is  represented  as 

I  island,  separated  from  the  contment  by  a  strait.f    The  error 

as  corrected  in  1700  by  Father  Kuhn,  (or  Kino,  as  the  Spaniards 

write  his  name,)  a  Germim  Jesuit,  who  explored  the  region  about 

re  northern  extremity  of  the  gulf. 
Shortly  after  the  period  of  Vizcaino's  expedition,  the  French, 
le  Knglisli,  and  the  Dutch,  su'icessively  established  colonies  on 
le  Atlantic  side  of  North  America,  as  well  as  in  the  West  Indies, 
rhcre  the  English  and  French  already  held  some  possessions ; 
nd  geographical  discoveries  were  also  about  the  same  time  made 
y  the  navigators  of  those  nations,  which  were,  or  appeared  to  be, 
Briously  prejudicial  to  the  interests  of  Spain  in  the  New  World, 
^hus,  Henry  Hudson  ascertained  the  existence  of  the  great  in- 
jrior  sea  north  of  Canada,  from  which  it  was  confidently  ex- 
ected  that  some  passage  to  the  Pacific  would  be  speedily  found; 
nd  Lemaire  and  Van  Schouten  entered  that  ocean  through  the 
pen  sea,  south  of  the  promontory,  which,  in  honor  of  their  native 
ity  in  Holland,  they  called  Cape  Horn.  The  navigation  between 
e  Adantic  and  the  Pacific  was  so  nmch  facilitated  by  the  latter 


•  In  a  work  printe.l  ai  Manilb  in  1712,  called  "Navcpacion  Espi'ciilaiiva  y  Prac- 
|ica,"  minute  direeiions  are  ;,'ivcn  tor  sailinfj  alonp  tliis  part  of  the  Amcripan  coast. 

+  Iti  ihe  curious  map  of  North  Ameiiea,  at  payeHalof  ttie.lii  voIuuk;  uf  Purchas's 
Pilgrimage,  published  in  lG-25,  liie  sea  is  repreNenieil  between  California  and  tlie  con- 
Inent,  as  far  north  as  the  4r)!h  degree.  On  tliis  map  are  laid  down,  bv  name,  Cane 
Jlanco,  Cape  San  Sebastian,  and  mmy  other  points  discovered  by  Vizcaino.  In 
"le  geographical  and  historical  atlas  of  Mitchell  and  Senex,  published  at  London 
[1  I7.il,  California  appears  as  an  island,  extendinf?  from  Cape  San  Lucas  to  the 
|5th  (lejiiee  of  latitude;  the  northernmost  part  of  the  island  is  called  Nova  Albion, 
^ortli  of  it  are  placed  a  number  of  small  islands,  near  the  continent,  with  the  names 
^f  Clnis:ento,  Colubra,  Wanguino,  Maquino,  &c,,  affixed  to  them.  Whence  were 
hese  names  derived  t 

A  veteran  buccanier.  Captain  Coxton,  who  flourished  in  the  latter  part  of  the 
l7ih  f  entury,  asserted  that  he  had,  in  Kif^t),  discovered  a  river  emptying  into  the  Pa- 
|ilie  from  the  American  continent,  north  of  Cape  Mendocino,  up  wliich  he  had  sailed 
Into  n  great  interior  sea  called  liie  Lfidc  of  Thoyaca,  containing  many  islands,  in- 
labiied  by  a  nnmeron.s  and  warldte  populaiion  This  lake  may  be  fouiid  on  several 
bid  maps  of  that  part  of  North  America,  for  instance,  in  the  atlas  of  Mitchell  and 
Benex,  above  mentioned.  Northwest  An)erica  was  indeed  at  that  time  the  terra 
inco^nitissima.    Bacon  laiil  the  .scene  of  hi%  Atlantis  there;  and  Brobdii^iitis;,  ac- 

jrding  to  the  very  exact  account  of  its  discoverer,  Captain  Lemuel  Gulliver,  was 
Mtuatcd  immediately  north  of  the  Strait  of  Fnca,  about  the  50th  parallel  of  latitude. 
The  position  of  Utopia  (or  no  ivkete)  is  not  clearly  expressed  in  the  narrative  of 

loster  Ralph  Hythloday;  but  it  seems  to  have  been  near  California. 


1009 


KWO 


IW 


Uk)0 


M     1 


r 


;   „ 


1^.;, 


iH" 


iiiii 


■■fjii 


\ 


1600. 


If 


IGiC 

to 
1684. 


1G85. 


vm. 


Oci. 


4i 

discovery,  that  voyages  to  the  western  side  of  America  were  no  J 
longer  considered  as  dangerous  enterprises;  and  the  Spanish  coni.| 
merce  on  those  coasts  was  almost  ever  afterwards  harassed  byl 
pirates,  or  quasi  pirates,  of  various  classes  and  denominations,! 
The  Gulf  of  California  was,  during  the  seventeenth  centUry,  thi 
principal  resort  and  rendezvous  for  these  depredators,  especiallyi| 
for  those  from  Holland,  who,  under  the  name  of  Pichilings,  kepi| 
the  inhabitants  of  the  southern  coasts  of  Mexico  in  constant  anx 
iety. 

For  the  purpose  of  protecting  these  coasts  from  such  inflictions 
as  well  as  of  obtaining  advantage  from  the  pearl-fishery  on  thi 
eastern  side  of  California,  several  attempts  were  made  by  the  Gov 
ernment,  as  well  as  by  individuals  and  companies  in  Mexico,  ti  | 
establish  garrisons,  colonies,  and  trading-posts  in  that  peninsula,": 
Of  the  expeditions  thus  made,  it  is  needless  here  to  relate  the  par 
ticulars,  as  they  are  unconnected  with  the  principal  subject  ol 
this  memoir ;  suffice  it  to  say,  that  they  all  terminated  unfortii 
nately,  from  want  of  funas,  from  the  barrenness  of  the  countn 
and  the  hostility  of  its  inhabitants,  and,  above  all,  from  the  indo 
lence  and  viciousness  of  the  persons  sent  out  as  colonists.     The ; 
last  of  these  expeditions  made  by  command  of  the  Spanish  Gov 
ernment  was  under  the  direction  of  Don  Isidro  de  Otondo,  who, ' 
in  1683,  conducted  from  Mexico  a  number  of  soldiers,  settlers,  ani  *| 
priests,  of  the  order  of  the  Jesuits,  and  distributed  them  at  various 
points  on  the  western  side  of  the  Californian  gulf;  the  colonies, 
however,  all  disappeared  within  a  few  months  after  they  had  beer 
planted,  and  it  was  then  resolved  by  a  council  of  the  principal  an 
thorities  of  Mexico  that  the  reduction  of  California  by  such  means 
was  impracticable. 

The  Jesuits  who  had  accompanier'  Otondo  in  his  expeditioni 
while  concurring  with  the  council  in  its  opinion,  nevertheless  ini 
sisted  that  the  object  might  be  attained  by  another  course,  vizi 
by  the  conversion  to  Christianity  and  civilization  of  the  nativesF 
of  that  part  of  America,  which  task  they  offered  themselves  to^ 
undertalce.    Their  proposition  met  with  little  encouragement  from  \ 
the  heads  of  the  government  in  Mexico.    Being,  however,  not  disi 
heartened,  the  fathers  perambulated  the  whole  kingdom,  preach-^ 
ing  and  exhorting  the  authorities  and  the  people  to  aid  them  inl 
the  prosecution  of  an  enterprise  so  pious  and  so  politic.    By  suchl 
mean^  and  by  the  co-operation  of  their  brethren  in  Spain,  they 
raised  a  small  fund,  and  finally,  in  1697,  procured  royal  warrants 
authorizing  them  to  undertalie  the  reduction  of  California /or  tk  \ 
King,  and  to  do  every  thing  which  might  be  necessary  ibr  thati 
purpose,  at  their  onm  expense.   On  receiving  these  v  arrants.  Fathers 
Salvatierra,  the  principal  missionary,  sailed  with  a  few  soldiers^ 
and  laborers  to  the  land  which  was  to  be  the  scene  of  their  opei! 
ations,  where  he  was  soon  joined  by  Fathers  Kuhn,  (or  Kino,  asf 


In  acquirmg 


♦  Accounts  of  these  expeditions  maybe  found  in  the  History  of  Cnlifornia,  hyj 
Father  Venegas;  and  in  JS'avarrete's  Inlroduciiou  to  the  Journal  of  the  Sutil  an(l| 
Mexicana. 


49 


merica  were  tin 
le  Spanish  comi 
ds  harassed  by 
denominations, 
ith  century,  thf 
ators,  especially 
Pichilings,  kept 
n  constant  anj. 

such  inflictions 
l-fishery  on  ths 
ade  by  the  Got. 
IS  in  Mexico,  fc 
that  peninsula," 
to  relate  the  par 
cipal  subject  o! 
linated  unfortii 
of  the  country 
,  from  the  indo 
colonists.  Tilt 
le  Spanish  Gov 
le  Otondo,  who, 
ers,3ettlers,an(! 
them  at  various 
f;  the  colonies, 
ir  they  had  beer 
the  principal  aii 
1  by  such  means 

his  expedition 
nevertheless  in 
her  course,  viz 
n  of  the  natives 
I  themselves  to 
uragement  froin 
owever,  not  dis 
ngdom,  preach- 
!  to  aid  them  in 
»olitic.  By  such 
I  in  Spain,  they 
1  royal  warrants 
!alifornia/or  tk 
jcessary  ibr  that 
I  jurrants,  Father 
I  a  few  soldiers 
le  of  their  oper- 
lin,  (or  Kino,  as 


e  Spaniards  call  him,)  Picolo,  Ugarte,  and  others,  all  men  of 
lucation  and  courage,  zealously  devoted  to  the  business  before 
em. 

On  arriving  in  California,  the  Jesuits  had  to  encounter  tlie  same 
stacles  and  difficulties  which  had  rendered  vain  all  previous 
ttempts  to  form  establishments  in  that  region.  They  were  at- 
icked  by  the  natives,  to  whose  enmity  several  of  the  fathers  fell 
ictims ;  their  own  men  were  insubordinate,  and  were  generally 
lore  inclined  to  fish  for  pearls,  than  to  engage  in  the  regular  la- 
ors  required  for  the  support  o^f  settlers  in  a  new  country ;  and 
leir  operations  were  for  some  time  confined  within  the  narrowest 
mits,  by  the  want  of  funds.  Their  brethren  and  friends  in  Spain 
ccasionally  obtained  orders  for  small  sums  from  the  Government 
)r  their  use ;  but  the  Mexican  treasury,  on  which  these  orders 
rere  drawn,  was  seldom  able  to  meet  them  when  presented,*  and 
le  value  of  the  assistance  thus  aflForded  was  in  all  cases  much 
iminished  before  it  reached  those  for  whom  it  was  intended. 
By  perseverance  and  kindness,  however,  the  Jesuits  triumphed 
ver  all  these  difficulties.  Within  a  short  time  after  their  entrance 
to  California,  they  founded  several  stations  or  missions;  and  he- 
re the  middle  of  the  last  century,  their  establishments  extended, 
t  short  distances  apart,  along  the  whole  eastern  side  of  the  pen- 
sula,  from  the  mouth  of  the  Colorado  in  the  north,  to  Cape  San 
lucas.  Each  of  these  stations  contained  a  church,  a  small  fort, 
d  a  storehouse ;  and  it  formed  the  centre  of  a  district,  in  which 
e  Indians  were  induced,  by  the  most  gentle  means,  to  labor 
gularly  for  their  own  support,  to  live  at  peace  among  themselves, 
,nd  to  receive  instruction  in  the  doctrines  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
ligion.  To  these  ends  were  the  efforts  of  the  fathers  exclu- 
ively  directed,  immigration  from  other  countries  being  always 
iscouraged  by  them.  That  their  exertions  in  this  way  were  cal- 
ulated  to  produce  temporary  good,  cannot  be  denied,  as  the  in- 
vidual  objects  of  them  must  have  been  rendered  more  happy 
d  comfortable  than  they  would  have  otherwise  been ;  but  it  ap- 
ars  to  be  equally  certain,  that  neither  the  Jesuits  nor  any  other 
issionaries  have  ever  succeeded  in  fitting  a  Californian  Indian 
become  a  useful  member  of  society. 

These  missionaries,  likewise,  exerted  themselves  assiduously 
jn  acquiring  a  knowledge  of  the  geography,  natural  history,  Ian- 
ages,  A-c,  of  the  country  which  they  had  taken  under  their 
harge ;  and  so  far  as  regards  the  middle  and  eastern  parts  of  the 
ninsula,  and  the  region  farther  north,  watered  by  tho  Colorado 
nd  the  Gila,  nearly  all  the  information  which  we  now  possess 
a.s  been  derived  through  the  labors  of  the  Jesuits.    Respecting 
;he  western  side  of  the  peninsula  they  added  little  or  nothing  to 
he  stock  of  knowledge,  all  their  efforts  to  examine  that  portion 
aving  been  unsuccessful.    One  of  the  most  material  points  as- 


\m' 


lfi!)T 

111 

17(W. 


ir  ■ 


\\ 


« 


|k* 


!l' 


I    i. 


r-u 


If! 


if 


M 


ry  of  Californin,  t)yj 
lal  of  the  Sutil  anill 


♦  It  appears,  from  tlie  History  of  California,  by  Vcnega.';,  (part  3,  section  4,)  that 
1702  llie  .Vlexican  treasury  was  exhausted  by  the  expenses  of  expeditions  for  the 

konquest  of  Texas,  and  for  establishing  forts  and  garrisons  at  Pensacola,  and  other 

places  on  the  north  coast  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 


M!h 


,4  .1 


1W7 

id 

1768. 


11 


1767. 


50 

certained  by  them  was  the  fact  of  the  connexion  of  California 
with  the  American  continent,  which,  after  having  been  doubted  j 
or  denied  for  almost  a  century,  was  completely  established  by 
Father  Kuhn,  an  indefatigable  German,  in  1700. 

The  results  of  these  researches  were  communicated  to  the  world 
from  time  to  time,  through  the  medium  of  a  periodical  publica 
tion,  entitled  "  Lettrcs  Eftifiantes  et  Curieiises,  ecrites  des  Mission 
Etranglies^''  (Edifying  and  Curious  Letters  written  from  the  For 
eign  Missions,)  which  was  conducted  at  Paris  by  Jesuits,  forseve 
ral  years,  from  1716.  But  the  most  complete  account  of  Califor 
nia,*  to  1750,  is  to  be  found  in  the  Natural  and  Civil  History  of  tha: 
country,  generally  attributed  to  Father  Miguel  Venegas,  thougl 
now  known  to  have  been  composed  chiefly  by  another  priest  o: 
the  order,  named  Andres  Marcos  Burriel.  Respecting  this  work 
which  appeared  originally  at  Madrid  in  1757,  and  has  been  sinct 
translated  into  all  the  principal  European  languages,  it  may  b: 
here  observed,  that  the  portions  dedicated  to  the  labors  of  the  Jes 
uits  are  highly  interesting,  and  that  they  bear  with  them  \h 
marks  of  truth ;  but  that  the  not'ces  of  events  which  occunw 
prior  to  the  entrance  of  the  missionaries  into  the  country  are  often 
at  variance  with  those  given  by  the  older  writers,  and  sometimes 
evidently  erroneous.  The  observationis  of  the  author  upon  the 
policy  of  the  Spanish  Government  towards  its  American  domin 
ions  are  replete  with  wisdom,  and  indicate  more  liberality,  as  well 
as  boldness  on  his  part,  than  could  have  been  reasonably  expect 
ed,  considering  the  circumstances  under  which  he  wrote  and  pub- 
lished. 

The  Jesuits  received,  as  before  mentioned,  little  assistance  from 
the  Spanish  Government  in  the  prosecution  of  their  plaus  with 
regard  to  California.  That  Government,  indeed,  was  not  only  ai 
all  times  disinclined  to  favor  projects  from  which  no  immediate  ^ 
increase  of  its  revenues  or  political  strength  could  be  anticipated,! 
but  was  also  particularly  jealous  and  mistrustful  as  to  the  pro 
ceedings  of  the  Jesuits  in  the  New  World.  Suspicions  were  en 
tertained  at  Madrid  that  those  proceedings  were  not  dictated  sole- 
ly by  philanthropic  and  religious  motives;  but  that  the  body  as- 
pired to  the  separation  and  exclusive  control  of  many  portions,  if 
not  of  the  whole,  of  the  Spanish  empire  in  America.  These  sus- 
picions became  stronger  as  the  influence  of  the  Jesuits  increased; 
the  power  possessed,  or  believed  to  be  possessed,  by  their  order, 
however,  preserved  them  for  some  time  from  any  direct  open  at- 
tack on  the  part  of  the  Government.  At  length,  in  1767,  a  royal 
decree  was  issued  by  King  Charles  III.  for  their  expulsion  from 
his  dominions;   it  was  executed  without  difficulty ,t  and  the 


♦  "  Nolicia  de  la  California  y  de  su  Conquista,  sacada  de  la  historia  manuscrita  dtl 
Padre  Miguel  Venegas,  y  de  olras  noticias."  ("  Acccmnt  of  Califoir  a,  and  of  its  con- ; 
quest,  drawn  from  tne  manuscript  history  of  Father  Miguel  Venegas,  and  from  other  1 
sources.")    The  English  translation,  publislied  in  1759,  is  miserable. 

t  A  large  military  force  was  sent  from  Mexico,  for  the  purpose  of  dislodging  the 
Jesuits  in  California.  Gaspar  de  Portola,  the  commander  of  this  expedition,  is  sai  J 
to  have  been  much  ashamed  and  mortified  on  finding  that  his  efforts  were  directed 
only  against  a  few  old  priests,  and  their  half  starred  simple  Indian  converts. 


n  of  Californij 
r  been  doubted 


iodical  publica 
tes  des  Missiom 
n  from  the  For 
esuits,forseve 
)unt  of  Califor. 

History  of  tha; 
enegas,  thougl; 
lother  priest  cc 
ting  this  work 

lias  been  sine* 
»ges,  it  may  b; 
bors  of  the  Jes 
with  them  thf 
vhich  occurrc: 
(untry  are  ofter: 
and  sometimes 
Lithor  upon  the 
lerican  domin 
jerality,  as  well 
onably  expect 


missionaries  in  California  were  obliged,  at  a  moment's  warning, 
to  quit  forever  the  establishments  which  they  had  so  long  and  so 
established  by ;    sedulously  been  engaged  in  rearing. 

^  In  1769,  immediately  after  the  expulsion  of  the  Jesuits  from 
ed  to  the  world  i  California,  the  Spaniards  established  the  first  colony  and  garrison 
on  the  western  coast  of  that  territory.  This  measure  was  effected 
in  prosecution  of  a  scheme  of  reform  and  defence,  which  had 
been  devised  at  Madrid,  with  the  view  of  rendering  the  trans-At- 
lantic dominions  of  Spain  more  profitable  to  the  mother  country, 
and  more  dependent  upon  its  authority ;  as  Avell  as  of  securing 
them  against  apprehended  encroachments  of  foreign  nations. 

Since  the  days  of  Sebastian  Vizcaino,  who  had  so  strenuously 
recommended  the  settlement  of  this  part  of  America,  the  Spanish 
power  had,  from  a  variety  of  causes,  been  constantly  declining. 
On  the  Atlantic  side  of  the  New  World  several  valuable  territo- 
ries, which  had  long  been  occupied  by  the  subjects  of  his  Cath- 
olic Majesty,  as  well  as  others  to  which  his  claims  were  less  ob- 
vious, had  passed  into  the  hands  of  his  bitterest  foes;  and  al- 
though his  authority  was  still  undisputed  on  the  western  side  of 
the  continent,  yet  his  pretensions  to  the  exclusive  dominion  of 
the  Pacific  had  become  obsolete.     The  buccaneers  had  led  the 
I  way  into  that  ocean.  They  were  followed  by  the  arnied  squadrons 
of  Great  Britain  and  Holland,  with  one  or  other  of  which  nations 
Spain  was  almost  incessantly  at  war;  and,  during  the  short  inter- 
vals of  peace,  came  the  exploring  ships  of  those  Powers  and  of 
\vrote  and  pub-  ;  France,  whose  voyages  of  discovery  were  always  regarded  by 
;  the  Court  of  Madrid  as  ominous  of  evil  to  its  American  colonies, 
assistance  from     The  results  of  these  exploring  expeditions  were  communicated  to 
heir  plaus  with.  ^  the  world  without  delay,  and  in  the  most  full  and  authentic  man- 
was  not  only  a;    'ner  possible ;  the  journals  of  the  respective  navigators  being  pub- 
no  imniediatti    lished  immediately  afler  their  return,  illustrated  by  charts,  tables, 
be  anticipatedj  ^and  drawings,  affording  accurate  ideas  of  the  objects  and  events 
as  to  the  pro  I    -----        - 

cions  were  enf 

t  dictated  sole-  j  subsistence  of  the  monopolies  enforced  by  Spain,  were  gradually 
introduced  and  adopted  by  the  other  maritime  Powers  of  Europe.* 
After  the  peace  of  1763,  the  exploring  voyages  of  the  French 
and  British  were  more  frequent,  and  were  conducted  in  a  man- 
ner which  gave  to  them  distinctly  the  characters  of  political  move- 
ments. The  irritation  and  jealousy  which  they  occasioned  at 
Madrid  were  still  farther  increased  upon  the  establishment  of  col- 
onies, by  each  of  the  abovementioned  nations,  among- the  islands 
of  the  Falkland  group,  at  the  very  threshold  of  the  Pacific.  The 
French  Govermnent,  indeed,  soon  withdrew  it-  subjects  from 


at  the  body  as 
my  portions,  if 
i.  These  sus- 
uits  increased; 
by  their  order, 
direct  open  at- 
1  1767,  a  royal 
xpulsion  from 
ilty,t  and  the 


17(J: 


17G9. 


1G03 

to 
1769. 


1764 

to 

176G. 


i^; 


'ilMi" 


'If* 


\ik 


.$ 


pm 


ria  manuscrita  d«l 
!  'a,  and  o(  iti>  con- 
as,  and  from  other 
ble. 

of  dislodging  the 
expedition,  is  said 
[•rts  were  directed 
ID  converts. 


•  "  Sir  Benjamin  Keene,  one  of  the  ablest  foreign  ministers  this  country  ever  had, 
I  (he  was  ambassadur  from  Great  Britain  to  the  Court  of  Madrid  from  1754  to  1757,) 
used  to  say,  that  if  the  Spaniards  vexed  us  in  the  first  instance,  we  had  means 
enough  to  vex  them  without  infringing  upon  treaties;  and  the  first  step  he  would  re- 
commend would  be,  to  send  out  ships  of  discovery  to  the  South  seas.'  —Lord  Lans- 
dowrt's  speech  in  Parliament  on  the  Convention  with  Spain;  delivered  Deceviber  13, 
1 17!H1'.    Parliamentary  History,  vol.  xxvii,  page  944, 


\      ! 
I 
i 


f 

(i!        ■; 

i     ■ 

i  ■ 

\ 

14 


'•  <!   'i 


17C4 

to 
17«(). 


17G3 

to 
1768. 


1:1 


m 


17fi5. 


1768. 


1;! 


rq 


52 

those  islands,  at  the  request  of  the  King  of  Spain ;  the  British 
cabinet,  however,  disregarded  all  hints  and  remonstrances  respect- 
ing its  alleged  encroachments  upon  the  territories  of  his  Cath- 
olic Majesty,  and  there  were  strong  indications  of  designs  on  its 
part  to  invade  other  portions  of  those  territories  in  a  similar  man- 
ner. The  exploring  ships  had  confined  themselves  to  the  south- 
ern and  intertropical  parts  of  the  ocean ;  there  was,  however,  no 
reason  for  expecting  that  they  would  not  in  time  advance  towards 
the  shores  of  the  north  Pacific,  where  their  presence  could  not 
but  be  injurious  to  the  interests  and  security  of  the  Spanish  do- 
minions. 

Serious  grounds  for  apprehensions  on  the  part  of  the  Spanish 
Government  were  also  afforded  by  the  Russians,  whose  dis- 
coveries and  settlements  on  the  northernmost  coasts  of  the  Pacific 
were  about  that  time  beginning  to  attract  the  attention  of  other 
European  nations.  Of  these  proceedings  little  was  known  witli 
certainty,  except  that  the  Russians  had  built  vessels  on  the  east- 
ern side  of  Asia,  and  had  discovered  extensive  territories  beyond 
the  sea  which  bathes  those  shores.  Whethe/  the  territories  thus 
found  were  islands,  or  parts  of  Asia  or  of  America,  and  whether 
those  continents  were  or  not  united  in  the  north,  were  questions 
then  undetermined.  The  fact  that  this  ambitious  and  enterpri- 
sing Power  had  formed  establishments  on  the  Pacific,  was  suffi 
cient  to  create  alarms  at  Madrid ;  wliich  were  rendered  more  seri- 
ous by  the  knowledge,  afterwards  obtained,  that  new  armaments 
on  a  large  scale  were  in  preparation  at  Kamschatka. 

In  order  to  avert  the  evils  thus  supposed  to  be  impending,  the 
Spanish  Government  devised  a  series  of  measures,  which  were  to 
be  successively  applied  as  circumstances  might  seem  to  indicate 
or  to  allow.     Of  these  measures,  one  of  the  principal  objects  was 
the  occupation  and  settlement  of  the  vacant  territories  of  Amer-  i 
ica  bordering  upon  the  ocean ;  to  effect  which,  endeavors  were! 
made  without  delay.    In  the  beginning  of  1768,  orders  were  given' 
to  the  Viceroy  of  Mexico  to  have  those  coasts  explored  as  far 
northward  a»>  ',"  night  be  practicable  to  advance ;  and  at  the  same 
time  to  establish  colonies  upon  them,  sufficiently  near  each  other 
for  mutual  support,  in  case  of  need,  against  savages  or  foreigners, 
The  execution  of  these  orders  was  committed  chiefly  to  Don 
Jose  de  Galvez,  a  high  ofllcer  of  the  Council  of  the  Indies,  who 
had  been  sent  to  Mexico  in  1765  to  superintend  the  application  of 
the  new  measures  in  the  northern  section  of  Spanish  America, 

The  west  coast  of  America  had  at  that  time  been  discovered 
only  as  far  north  as  the  43d  degree  of  latitude — that  is  to  say, 
as  far  north  as  Sebastian  Vizcaino  had  sailed  in  1603;  and  all  the 
information  concerning  it,  being  derived  from  the  accounts  of  the 
old  navigators,  amounted  to  little  more  than  descriptions  of  har- 
bors and  promontories  south  of  that  parallel.  Upon  examining 
the  manuscripts  of  Vizcaino  relating  to  his  voyage,  notices  and 
charts  were  found  of  several  places  upon  this  coast,  which  he 
considered  well  adapted  for  settlements ;  and,  in  consequence  of 
his  recommendations,  it  was  determined  by  the  Viceroy  and  Gal- 
vez that  the  first  establishments  should  be  made  at  the  spots 


which  had  3 

and  Mouten 

Great  diffi 

termination 

willing  to  i 

tending  the 

procure  on  i 

be  required 

signated  poi 

fore  the  clo 

of  priests,  s 

missionary 

Paz,  from 

ninsula,  for 

I  Gaspar  de  F 

I  nando  de  R 

The  arm 

»  nies  were  sc 

I  the  San  Ar 

I  the  other  ve; 

f  and  was  urn 

I  month.     O 

I  despatched 

I  ties  of  emig 

Portola  and 

veniont  spc 

town  was  li 

Portola,  I 

Monterey  b 

portion  of  t 

Diego  that 

ico,  should 

expedition 

or  near  the 

the  end  of ' 

San  Franc 

I  white  cliff! 

found   a  p 

under  the 

and,  the  v( 

liged  to  ret 

the  24th  of 

In  the  sj 

♦  An  accoai 
fornia  was  dr 
published  at  A 
by  the  Goveri 
Bngland,  whe 
lation  is  accc 
and  by  severa 
m  the  library 
by  Father  Fra 
who  was  the  c 


m 


n ;  the  British 
ranees  respect- 
i  of  his  Cath- 
designs  on  its 
a  similar  man- 
3  to  the  south- 
3,  however,  no 
vance  towards 
nee  could  not 
le  Spanish  do- 

)f  the  Spanisli 
s,  whose  dis- 
s  of  the  Pacifip 
intion  of  other 
IS  linown  witli 
Is  on  the  east- 
ritories  beyond 
territories  thus 
,  and  whether 
were  questions 
5  and  enterpri- 
lific,  was  suffi 
3red  more  seri- 
ew  armaments 
I. 

mpendinp',  the 
which  were  to 
sem  to  indicate 
[)al  objects  was 
lories  of  Amer- 
indeavors  were 
iers  were  given 
xplored  as  far 
nd  at  the  same 
lear  each  other 
s  or  foreigners, 
hiefly  to  Don 
le  Indies,  who 
3  application  of 
inish  America 
een  discovered 
-that  is  to  say, 
03 ;  and  all  the 
accounts  of  the 
iptions  of  bar 
x)n  examining 
^e,  notices  and 
jast,  which  he 
consequence  of  ■ 
ceroy  and  Gal- 
e  at  the  spots 


which  had  received  from  this  discoverer  the  names  of  San  Diego     nes. 
and  Monterey. 

Great  difficulties  were  to  be  overcome  in  order  to  carry  this  de- 
termination into  effect.  Few  persons  could  be  found  in  Mexico 
willing  to  subject  themselves  to  the  fatigues  and  privations  at- 
tending the  settlement  of  a  new  country ;  and  it  was  not  easy  to 
procure  on  the  Pacific  side  of  the  kingdom  such  vessels  as  would 
be  required  for  the  transportation  of  men  and  materials  to  the  de- 
signated points  on  the  northwest  coast.  At  length,  however,  be- 
fore the  close  of  the  year,  a  small  number  of  persons,  consisting 
of  priests,  soldiers,  and  ^olonists,  were  assembled  at  one  of  the 
missionary  stations  on  the  eastern  coast  of  California,  called  Lm 
Paz,  from  which  place  they  began  their  march  through  the  pe- 
ninsula, for  San  Diego,  in  two  parties,  respectively  conducted  by 
Gaspar  de  Portola,  the  governor  of  the  new  province,  and  Fer- 
nando de  Rivera,  a  captain  in  the  army. 

The  arms,  ammunition,  provisions,  and  materials  for  the  colo-     nca 
nies  were  sent  around  to  San  Diego  in  two  vessels,  one  of  which, 
the  San  Antonio,  reached  that  place  on  the  11th  of  April,  1769;  April  ii. 
the  other  vessel,  the  San  Carlos,  was  driven  far  out  to  the  westward, 
and  was  unable  to  enter  her  destined  port  until  the  end  of  the  same  April  -29. 
month.     Of  a  third  vessel,  the  San  Jose,  which  had  also  been 
despatched  for  the  west  coast,  nothing  was  ever  heard.    The  par- 
ties of  emigrants  who  had  proceeded  by  land  from  La  Paz,  under 
Portola  and  Rivera,  successively  arrived  during  May ;  and  a  con-    May. 
veniont  spot  having  been  selected  on  the  shore  of  the  harbor,  a 
town  was  laid  out  and  buildings  were  commenced. 

Portola,  being  anxious  in  like  manner  to  found  a  settlement  at 
Monterey  before  the  winter,  set  off  for  tliat  place  in  June,  with  a  June  14. 
portion  of  the  emigrants  and  soldiers  ;  leaving  directions  at  San 
Diego  that  a  vessel,  which  was  expected  with  supplies  from  Mex- 
ico, should  be  despatched  to  meet  him  at  the  other  harbor.   This 
expedition  was  not  successful.     The  Spaniards,  marching  along 
or  near  the  coast  towards  the  north,  overshot  Monterey,  and  at 
the  end  of  October  found  themselves  on  the  shores  of  the  Bay  of  Oct.  30. 
San  Francisco,  which  they  recognised  by  means  of  the  high 
white  cliffs  at  its  entrance.     Turning  towards  the  south,  they 
found   a  port  corresponding  with   that  described  by  Vizcaino 
under  the  name  of  Monterey ;  but  the  cold  weather  had  set  in,  Nor.  38. 
and,  the  vessel  nut  appearing  with  the  supplies,  they  were  ob- 
liged to  retrace  ^'leir  steps  to  San  Diego,  where  they  arrived  on 
the  24th  of  January,  1T70.* 

In  the  spring  of  1770  the  San  Antonio  returned  to  San  Diego     1770. 


ii 


♦  An  acconnt  of  the  eslablishinent  of  the  first  colonies  on  the  west  coast  of  Cali- 
fornia was  drawn  up  by  Don  Miguel  Costanso,  the  engineer  of  the  expedition,  and 
published  at  Mexico  in  the  latter  part  of  1770;  but  it  was  immediately  suppressed 
m  the  Government,  Fortunately,  however,  a  copy  of  the  work  was  carried  to 
Hngland,  where  a  translation  was  made  from  it  and  published  in  1790.  This  trans- 
lation is  accompanied  by  other  useful  articles  with  regard  to  the  northwest  coast, 
and  by  several  maps  and  plans  of  harbors  in  that  part  of  America.  The  work  is 
m  the  library  of  Congress.  Much  information  on  the  same  subject  is  also  afforded 
by  Father  Francisco  Palou,  in  his  Life  of  Father  Junipero  Serra,  a  Franciscan  friar, 
who  was  the  chief  of  the  missionaries  to  California  lo  1768. 


.  ]    .1 


,^ 


i 


54 

1770.  with  supplies  from  Mexico,  in  consequence  of  which  Governor 
Portola  determined  to  make  another  effort  to  form  an  estabhsh- 
ment  at  Monterey.  He  accordingly  marched  for  that  place,  where 
he  was  joined  by  the  vessel  with  the  supplies  before  the  end  cif 
May,  and  having  succeeded  ii.  -completing  the  most  nccessarj' 
arrangements  for  the  shelter  and  support  of  the  settlers  during 
the  winter,  he  himself  proceeded  to  Mexico  to  superintend  tlit 
despatch  of  emigrants  to  the  colonies. 

It  was  in  prosecution  of  this  plan  for  securing  the  unsettled 
territories  of  America  adjoining  the  Spanish  dominions  from 
occupation  by  foreigners,  that  Don  Francisco  Bucareli,  the  Gov- 

June  10.  ernor  of  Buenos  Ayres,  in  June,  1770,  forcibly  expelled  the  Brit- 
ish colonists  from  their  establishment,  called  Port  Egmont,  in  the 
Falkland  Islands.  I'his  event  occasioned  serious  difficulties  be- 
tween the  Governments  of  Great  Britain  and  Spain,  and  prepara- 
tions for  war  were  made  upon  both  sides ;  negotiations  were, 
however,  at  the  same  time  carried  on,  and  the  affair  was  at  length 
arranged  wittiout  recourse  to  arms,  in  a  manner  not  wholly  un- 
satisfactory to  Spain.  The  history  of  these  transactions  has  never 
yet  been  fully  coiunmnicated  to  the  world.  From  what  has  been 
published  officially,  added  to  the  information  obtained  from  vari 
ous*  other  sources,  the  circumstances  appear  to  have  been  as  fol- 
lows : 
As  soon  as  the  news  of  the  expulsion  of  the  settlers  reached 

Sept.  12.  London,  the  British  Secretary  of  State,  Lord  Weymouth,  ad- 
dressed to  the  Court  of  Madrid  demands  for  the  immediate  disa- 
vowal on  its  part  of  the  acts  of  the  Governor  of  Buenos  Ayres,  and 
for  the  restitution  of  the  islands  in  the  condition  in  which  they 
were  before  those  acts  took  place.  To  these  demands  the  Span- 
ish Government  at  first  gave  evasive  answers,  endeavoring  tOj 
change  the  question  at  issue  into  one  respecting  the  right  of  sov- 
ereignty over  the  islands ;  but  the  British  ministry  refused  to  treat 
upon  this  subject  until  the  disavowal  and  restitution  had  been 
made  as  required-,  and  preparations  for  large  armaments  were' 
begun  throughout  Great  Britain.  The  Spanish  ambassador  at 
London  next  declared  himself  empowered  by  his  Sovereign  to 
state  that  no  particular  orders  had  been  given  to  the  Governor  ol 
Buenos  Ayres  with  regard  to  the  Falkland  Islands,  although  that 
officer  had  acted  agreeably  to  his  general  instructions  and  oath  in 
expelling  the  British ;  and  that  Port  Egmont  should  be  restored 
as  demanded.    This  offer  was,  liovever,  also  rejected  as  unsatis- 

Dec.        factory  by  Lord  Weymouth ;  and  war  appeared  inevitable. 

In  this  conjuncture,  the  King  of  Spain  applied  to  his  cousin 
Louis  XV.  of  France  for  aid,  agreeably  to  the  FamiJy  Compact, 
in  order  tha'  he  night  resist  the  demands  of  Great  Britain. 
France  was,  iic.wever,  at  that  time  in  a  very  disturbed  state;  in 


♦  Parliamentary  History,  voIk.  x'-i  and  x.xviii;  Dodsley's  Annual  Register  for 
1771,  page  248;  Belsham's  History  of  Great  Britain,  vol.  v,  pages  3()8  to  371— par- 
ticularly a  note  at  Ihe  list  cited  page.  The  account  given  by  this  writer  is  perhaps 
the  clearest  which  has  yet  been  presented.  See  also  an  article  on  the  Character  oi 
Lord  Chatham,  iu  the  Edinburgh  Review,  No.  136,  for  July,  1838,  page  448. 


consequenc 

the  dispute 

as  a  mediat 

ish  Governi 

immediately 

and  to  malJ 

for  the  int 

change  had 

ministry. 

first  demar 

I  Spain,  had 

I  was  ready 

I  the  part  of 

I  don ;  and  a 

I  the  day  of  i 

I       On  that  I 

■    serano,  pre; 

\  the  King  o 

\  desirous  to 

j  of  violence 

i  gaged  to  re 

i  port  and  fo 

I  tillery,  stor 

»  of  Jime,  17 

•  avowal  ant 

the  question 

\  The  Earl 

I  which,  afte 

I  ting  to  the 

I  stated  that 

'i  laration,  to{ 

I  satisfaction 

I  however,  vu 

\  the  riirht  of 

I      In  execu 

placed  at  P 

dition  in  w 

withdrawn 

Falkland  I 

other  Euro 

them  until 


♦  The  celeb 
Pack  de  Fam 
I  cle,  their  Maj( 
Power  as  tbeii 
by  the  second 
tic  manner,  al 
of  the  world." 
requested  sha' 
virtually  anni 
been  almost  s 
hcvebeen  in  f 


6$ 


ich  Governor 
an  establish- 
t  place,  where 
)re  the  end  of 
ost  necessary' 
ettlers  during 
perintend  the 

the  unsettled 
minions  froni 
ireji,  the  Gov- 
elled  the  Brit- 
Igrnont,  in  the 
Jifficulties  be- 
,  and  prepara- 
tiations  were. 
•  was  at  length 
ot  wholly  un- 
ons  has  never 
vhat  has  been 
led  from  vari- 
i^e  been  as  fol- 

ttlers  reached 
eymouth,  ad- 
imediate  disa- 
los  Ayres,  and 
in  which  they 
nds  the  Span- 
ndeavoring  toi 
e  right  of  sov- 
efused  to  treat 
tion  had  been 
naments  were 
mibassador  at 
Sovereign  to 
le  Governor  of 
although  that 
us  and  oath  in 
lid  be  restored 
ted  as  unsatis- 
vi  table, 
to  his  cousin 
ni)y  Compact, 
(ireat  Britain, 
rbed  state;  in 


lual  Register  for 
5  3(i8  to  371 — par- 
wriier  is  perliaps 
L  the  Character  oi 
,  page  448. 


consequence  of  which,  Louis  declined  entering  as  a  party  inio     177»». 
the  dispute,  though  he  at  the  sauie  time  tendered  his  good  offices 
as  a  mediator  between  the  two  Powers.*    To  this  offer  the  Span- 
ish Govenmient  acceded ;  and  the  King  of  France  was  thereupon 
immediately  requested  to  take  the  whole  matter  under  his  charge, 
and  to  make  any  arrangement  which  he  might  consider  proper 
for  the  interests  and  honor  of  Spain.     In  the  mean  time,  a 
change  had  occurred  in  the  composition  and  views  of  the  British 
ministry.     Lord  Weymouth,  being  unwilling  tc  recede  from  his 
first  demands,  and  finding  his  colleagues  averse  to  a  war  with 
Spain,  had  retired  from  office,  and  his  successor,  Lord  Rochford,  Dtc.  is. 
was  ready  to  compromise  the  affair.     The  offer  of  mediation  on 
the  part  of  France  was,  therefore,  accepted  by  the  Court  of  Lon- 
don ;  and  a  definitive  arrangement  of  the  dispute  was  effected  on     1771. 
the  day  of  the  meeting  of  Parliament.  ^"^w  22. 

On  that  day  the  Spanish  ambassador  at  liondon,  Prince  Mas- 
serano,  presented  to  Lord  Rochtbrd  a  Declaration,  in  the  name  of 
the  King  of  Spain,  to  the  effect  that  his  Catholic  Majesty,  being 
desirous  to  maintain  peace  with  Great  Britain,  disavowed  the  acts 
of  violence  committed  by  the  Governor  of  Buenos  Ayres,  and  en- 
gaged to  restore  to  his  Britannic  Majesty  and  his  subjects  "the 
port  and  fort  of  Egmont  in  the  Falkland  Islands,  with  all  the  ar- 
tillery, stores,  and  effects,  precisely  as  they  were  before  the  10th 
of  June,  1770 ;"  but  at  the  same  time  it  was  declared  that  this  dis- 
avowal and  engagement  "  cannot  nor  oufrht  in  anywise  to  affect 
the  question  of  prior  riii  lit  of  sovereignty  of  the  Falkland  Islamist 
The  Earl  of  Rochford,  in  return,  presented  an  Acceptance,  in 
which,  after  recapitulating  the  paragraph  of  the  Ihclarution  rela- 
ting to  the  disavowal  and  engagements  to  make  restitution,  he 
stated  that  "his  Britannic  Majesty  would  look  upon  the  said  dec- 
laration, together  with  the  performance  of  said  engagement,  as  a 
satisfaction  for  the  injury  done  to  the  Crown  of  Great  Britain ;"  he, 
however,  made  no  al/usion  whatever  to  the  reservation  respecting 
the  right  of  sovereignty  to  the  teiritory  irstored. 

In  execution  of  this  engagement,  the  British  colonists  were  re- 
placed at  Port  Egmont,  as  soon  as  it  had  been  restored  to  the  con- 
dition in  which  it  was  before  the  seizure ;  they  were,  however, 
withdrawn  in  1774,  by  order  of  their  own  Government,  jind  flie  1774. 
Falkland  Islands  having  thus  been  freed  from  the  presence  of  all 
other  Europeans,  were  occupied  by  the  Spaniards,  who  retained 
them  until  South  America  became  independent.     This  abandon- 


♦  The  celebrated  treaty  between  the  Monarchs  of  France  and  Spain,  called  the 
Pacle  de  Famille,  was  signed  at  Paris  on  the  15th  of  August,  17fil.  By  the  first  arti- 
cle, their  Majesties  declare  that  "the  two  Crowns  will  hi  iceforlh  consider  every 
Power  as  their  common  enemy,  which  shall  become  the  enemy  of  either  of  them;" 
by  the  second  article,  they  "reciprocally  guaranty,  in  the  most  absolute  and  authen- 
tic manner,  all  the  estates,  lands,  islands,  and  places  which  they  pos.'-ess  in  any  part 
of  the  world."  Other  articles  fix  the  amount  of  "the  first  succors  which  the  Power 
requested  shall  be  obliged  to  furnish  to  the  Power  requesting."  This  treaty  was 
virtually  annulled  by  the  National  Assembly  of  France,  in  August,  1790 ;  havini;: 
been  almost  a  dead  letter  during  the  whole  period  in  which  it  was  supposed  to 
hcvebeen  in  force. 


.-if 


*i  11 


1771. 


I!    n^ 


ImJt 


56 

ment  by  Great  Britain  of  a  territory  which  had  formed  the  subject 
of  such  serious  difficulties  between  her  Government  and  that  of 
Spain,  was  justified  by  the  British  ministry  on  the  ground  that 
no  advantages  were  derived  or  expected  from  the  colony  suffi- 
cient to  compensate  the  costs  of  mamtaining  it.  The  Spaniards, 
however,  have  always  asserted,  and  their  assertion  is  supported 
by  the  opinions  of  distinguished  British  historians  and  statesmen, 
that  the  evacuation  of  the  islands  took  place  in  execution  of  an  ex- 
press though  secret  engagement  to  that  effect,  entered  into  by  Lord 
Rochford  at  the  time  of  the  airangement  of  the  dispute.* 

The  Spanish  Government  considered  the  result  of  this  dispute 
as  advantageous,  upon  the  whole,  to  the  security  of  its  American 
possessions ;  regarding  the  concessions  made  by  itself  as  more 
than  compensated  by  the  indirect  admission  of  its  assumed  rightf: 
of  sovereignty  over  the  unsettled  territories  adjoining  those  do- 
minions. Indeed,  those  concessions  were  little  else  than  diplo- 
matic courtesies.  The  spot  occupied  by  the  British  colonists 
was  restored  only  to  be  soon  after  abandoned ;  and  Bucareli,  not- 
withstanding the  censure  cast  upon  him  in  the  disavowal  of  his 
conduct,  was  continued  in  command  at  Buenos  Ayres  until  that 
evacuation  took  place,  after  which  lie  was  raised  to  the  lucrative 
and  dignified  station  of  Viceroy  of  Mexico. 

The  same  opinions  with  regard  to  the  concessions  of  the  Span- 
ish King  prevailed  very  generally  in  Great  Britain,  as  soon  as 
they  were  made  known.  The  arrangement  was  severely  criti- 
cised, and  the  ministry  were  reprehendedf  for  concluding  it,  both 
in  and  out  of  Parliament ;  and  the  consciousness  that  these  opin- 
ions were  just,  rendered  the  British  Government  more  severe  and 
uncompromising  in  its  exactions  from  Spain  upon  the  occasion  of 
the  dispute  respecting  Nootka  Sound  in  1790.  The  similarity 
of  the  circumstances  which  led  to  these  two  disputes,  and  the 
identity  of  the  principles  maintained  by  each  party  at  both  peri-  ^ 
ods,  rendered  it  proper  to  introduce  the  foregoing  accounts  and 
observations  respecting  the  difficulties  between  Spain  and  Great 


•  Governor  Pownal,  in  the  debt'e  in  Parliament,  March  Sih,  1771,  (see  Parlia- 
mentary History,  Vdl.  xvi,  page  1394,)  on  his  motion  for  censuring  the  ministry  on 
account  of  the  arrangement  with  Spain,  says:  "Without  some  such  idea  as  this, 
namely,  that  as  soon  as  reparation  t*  nuitle  to  our  honor  for  the  violent  and  hostile 
manner  in  which  we  were  driven  off  the  island,  and  as  soon  as  we  are  put  in  a  sitva- 
tion  to  evacuate  ii  on  our  own  motion,  it  is  tacitly  understood  we  are  to  cede  it — with- 
out some  .such  idea  as  this,  the  whole  of  the  negotiation  is  inexplicable  and  unintel- 
ligible."   To  this  no  reply  was  made  on  the  part  of  the  ministry. 

t  In  the  debate  in  the  House  of  Peers  upon  the  address  approving  the  arrange- 
ment with  Spain,  Lord  Chatham  used  this  language:  "There  never  was  a  more 
odious  or  more  infamous  falsehood  imposed  upon  a  great  nation.  It  degrades  the 
King;  it  insults  the  Parliamont.  His  Majesty  has  been  advised  to  affirm  an  abso- 
lute falsehood.  My  Lords,  I  fceg  your  attention ;  and  I  hope  to  be  understood  when 
I  repeat  that  it  is  an  absolute  falsehood.  The  King  of  Spain  disowns  the  thief, 
while  he  leaves  Lim  unpunished  and  profits  by  his  theft."  In  the  protest  against  the 
arrangement  entered  into  in  the  House  of  Lords  by  Lords  Chatham,  Lansdowne, 
and  other  eminent  member.;,  it  is  averred  that  in  the  declaration  and  acceptance 
"  no  claim  on  the  part  of  his  Majesty  to  the  right  of  sovereignty  to  any  part  of  the 
island  ceded  to  him  has  been  advanced ;  and  any  assertion  whatsoever  of  his  Majes- 
ty%  right  of  sovereignty  has  been  studiously  avoided  from  the  beginning  to  the 
end,"  &c.  See  Junius's  letter  of  January  30,  1771 ;  and  Johnson's  Defence  of  the 
Ministry,  which  is  generally  suppo.sed  to  have  been  dictated  by  Lord  North. 


Britain  in  1 
this  memoii 

The  issti 
ernmeut  sti 
of  occupyiii 
either  effcc 
semblance  ( 
with  this  v 
Mosquito,  1 
great  cxper 
war  betvvee 

The  settl 
nia  were,  a: 
tie  more  tht 
can  friars ; 
tue  of  their 
soldiers.  ''. 
on  the  Bay 
the  Govern 

The  Brit 
Falkland  1 
cific  minut 
despatched 
he  returned 
portant  disi 
upon  the  d 
respecting 
cific  and  Ii 

In  1774 
])y  Spanish 
ofprecccliu 
and  1779  t 
were  exam 
rommaiid. 
convenient 
made  by  t 
as  the  objc 
gard  to  thi 
easily  inte 


♦  For  stalls 
of  the  present 


id  the  subject 
t  and  that  of 

ground  that 

colony  suffi- 
le  Spaniards, 

is  supported 
id  statesmen, 
Hon  of  an  ex- 
'  into  by  Lord 
te* 

f  this  dispute 
its  American 
tself  as  more 
Slimed  rights 
ng  those  do- 
than  diplc- 
tish  colonists 
Bi'careli,  not- 
avowal  of  his 
rres  until  that 

the  lucrative 


5  of  the  Span 
,  as  soon  a^ 
severely  criti- 
uding  it,  both 
at  these  opin- 
3re  severe  and 
he  occasion  of 
rhe  similarity 
mtes,  and  the 
f  at  both  peri- 
accounts  and 
ain  and  Great 


1771,  (see  Parlia- 
ig  the  ministry  on 
such  idea  as  this, 
violent  and  hostile 
ire  put  in  a  sitna- 
e  to  cede  it — wilh- 
:able  and  unintel- 

ring  the  arrange- 
leverwas  a  more 
.  It  degrades  the 
to  affirm  an  abso- 
understood  when 
lisowns  the  thief, 
protest  against  the 
ham,  Lansdowne, 
1  and  acceptance 
to  any  part  of  the 
ETcr  of  his  Majes- 
beginning  to  the 
I's  Defence  of  the 
ord  North. 


•7 

Britain  in  1770;  othcnvise  they  would  have  been  out  of  place  in 
this  memoir. 

The  issue  of  this  dispute  served  to  impress  the  Spanish  C«ov- 
ernment  still  more  strongly  with  the  conviction  of  the  nc(;essity 
of  occupying  the  vacant  coasts  adjoming  its  American  provinces, 
either  effectively,  or  in  such  a  manner  as  to  afford  at  least  the 
semblance  of  right  to  the  exclusive  possession  of  them.  Efforts 
with  this  view  were  accordingly  made  on  the  shores  of  Texas, 
Mosquito,  Patagonia,  and  California;  and  were  continued  at  a 
great  expense,  though  with  little  success,  until  1779,  when  the 
war  between  Spain  and  Great  Britain  occasioned  their  suspension. 

The  settlements  of  the  Spaniards  on  the  west  coast  of  Califor- 
nia were,  and  continued  to  be  until  within  a  few  years  past,  lit- 
tle more  than  missionary  stations  under  the  direction  of  Francis- 
can friars ;  some  of  them  were,  however,  styled  Presidios,  in  vir- 
tue of  their  possessing  mud  forts  garrisoned  by  a  few  miserable 
soldiers.  The  most  northern  of  these  establishments  was  that 
on  the  Bay  of  San  Francisco,  founded  in  1776  ;  the  residence  of 
the  Governor  was,  and  still  is,  at  Monterey.* 

The  British  Govermncnt,  on  its  part,  although  abandoning  the 
Falkland  Islands,  still  persevered  in  endeavoring  to  have  the  Pa- 
cific minutely  explored.  For  this  purpose,  Captain  Cook  was 
despatched  on  his  second  voyage  around  the  world,  from  Avhich 
he  returned  in  1775 ;  having  in  the  mean  time  made  many  im- 
portant discoveries,  and  completely  disproved  the  rumors,  based 
upon  the  declarations  of  the  Spanish  navigator  Quiros  in  1607, 
respecting  the  existence  ol  a  habitable  continent  south  of  the  Pa- 
cific and  Indian  Oceans. 

In  177-4  and  1775  the  northwest  coast  of  America  was  explored 
by  Spanish  navigators  between  the  43d  degree  of  latitude,  the  limit 
of  preceding  discoveries  from  the  south,  and  the  58th ;  and  in  1778 
and  1779  the  remaining  portions,  as  far  north  as  the  Arctic  Sea, 
were  examined  by  the  British,  under  Cook  and  his  successors  in 
command.  Before  relating  these  important  occurrences,  it  will  be 
convenient  to  present  a  vicAv  of  the  discoveries  which  had  been 
made  by  the  Russians  in  the  northernmost  parts  of  the  Pacifi*!, 
as  the  objects  and  movements  of  tlie  other  two  nations,  with  re- 
gard to  this  section  of  the  world,  will  thereby  be  rendered  more 
easily  intelligible. 


♦  For  statistical  accounts  of  these  establishments,  as  they  existed  at  thebeginniuj 
;>f  the  present  century,  see  Humboldt's  Essay  on  New  Spain. 


1771. 


1771 
1779; 


ITTJ 


1774 

(o 

1770. 


f.l 


■A 


'  i  I.I 


I,    ' 


m 


■'■\ 


%i 


58 


«« I 


1 


CHAPTER   III. 

Voyages  of  discovery  and  trade  in  the  northernmost  parts  of  the  Pacific  made  by 
the  Russians  from  Kainsrhatkn  and  Ocholsk,  between  17-8  and  1779— Voyages 
(.<■  Beerin''  and  Tschirikcf— Establishment  of  the  fur  tra;' ;  b  iwcen  Asiatic 
Russia  and  the  opposite  coasts  and  islands  of  America — Voyaacs  ni  Synd,  Kren- 
iizin,  LevashefT,  and  Benyowsky. 

Before  the  beginning  of  the  eighteenth  century,  the  coasts  of 
Asia  bordering  upon  the  Pacific,  north  of  the  40th  degree  of  lati- 
tude, were  as  little  known  as  those  of  America  beyond  the  same 
parallel.  At  that  time,  the  only  information  respecting  the  former 
territories  was  derived  iiom  the  rejwrts  of  Martin  tJeritzen  de 
Vries,  a  Dutch  navigator,  who  had  in  1G43  explored  the  seas  north 
of  Japan  as  far  as  the  48th  degree,  and  had  doubdess  entered  the 
gulf  bounded  by  the  Kurile  Islands  and  Kamschatka  on  the 
east,  which  is  now  called  the  Sea  of  Ochotsk.  In  the  best  maps,** 
published  as  lately  as  1720,  Jesso,  the  most  northern  of  the  Jap- 
anese islands,  is  represented  as  part  of  the  continent  of  Asia ; 
while  the  Kurile  group  are  laid  down  as  a  continuous  territory, 
under  the  name  of  t/te  Coni}Ktny''s  land,  separated  from  Jesso  by  a 
passage  called  the  /SV/-flrz7  of  Vries. 
jC3)j  Such  was  the  state  of  geographical  knowledge  with  regard  to 
the  northeasterti  coasts  of  Asia  in  169G,  when  the  Cossacks,  who 
had  been  sent  by  Peter  the  Great,  Czar  of  Russia,  to  explore  and 
conquer  the  northern  parts  of  that  continent,  discovered  Kam- 
schatka, and  penetrated  to  the  shores  of  the  I'acific.  Within  the 
ensuing  fifteen  years,  Kamschatka  and  the  whole  region  interve- 
ning betwcuii  it  and  Euroj)e  were  definitively  attached  to  the 
Russian  empire. 

From  these  conquests  the  Russians  acquired,  among  other  ad- 
vantages, au  extension  of  their  commercial  intercourse  with  Chi- 
na, which  thus  'n  a  short  time  became  very  important.  The 
principal  articles  of  export  to  that  country  were  the  skins  and 
fursf  of  animals,  which  were  obtained  either  in  Siberia  and  Kam- 
schatka, or  by  way  of  England  from  Hudson's  Hay,  in  return,  the 
Russians  brought  from  China  its  teas,  silks,  porcelain,  and  other 
precious  commodities.  This  conmiercial  intercourse  was  eftected 
by  means  of  caravans  passing  over  land  to  and  from  certain  points 


*  See  historical  and  geograjihical  atlas  of  Mitchell  and  Senex,  published  at 
London  in  1620. 

t  Furs  have  been  at  all  periods  lii.^hly  prized  in  China  as  objects  of  comfort  and 
luxury.  In  the  northern  provinces  they  arc  nsed  as  defences  ajjainst  cold  ;  while 
throughout  the  empire  they  constitute  an  important  part  of  the  dress  of  every  rich 
noble  or  ostentatious  person.  "With  the  least  change  of  air,"  says  Krusenstern, 
"the  Chinese  immediately  alter  their  dress;  and  even  at  Canton,  which  is  undar 
the  tropic,  they  wear  furs  in  the  winter." 


in  each  on' 

and  the  diii 

of  I'juropoai 

none  but  ol 

have  been  1 

The  )X)Sf' 

ambitious  ( 

over  other  | 

\  by  the  occa 

\  lay  beyond 

I  him  to  invti 

the  British 

views,  he  ( 

and  etpiipf 

:  instruction  I 

other  vessel 

the  Arctic  ( 

^      At  the  p( 

;  it  was  not  I 

?  in  tlie  nortl 

)  the  Pacific 

'  that  the  wt 

i  nicuted  dii 

'  most  probt 

wrecked  ii| 

':^  graphical  i 

I  the  expedi 

;  means  of  i 

;  America. 

j.      Various 

'\  projects  di 

Catherine, 

a  small  ve; 

mouth  of 

peninsula, 

The  comi 

a  Dane,  w 

count  of  li 

were  Alex 

man,  both 

Beering 

and  took  i 

traced  as  f 

found  tlie 

nothing  b 

no  land  w 

stances,  tl 

eastern  ex 

then  saili: 

that  he  hr 

and  fearin 

to  winter 


59 


Pacific  made  l»y 
1779— Voyajjes 
■Iween  Asiatic 
n(  Synd,  Kren- 


the  coasts  of 
egree  of  lati- 
)iid  the  same 
ig  the  former 
Geritzen  de 
he  seas  north 
s  entered  the 
hatka  on  the 
e  best  maps,'' 
n  of  the  Jap- 
ent  of  Asia ; 
ous  teiTitory, 
»m  Jesso  by  a 

:ith  regard  to 
'ossacks,  who 
0  explore  and 
overed  Kam- 
Within  the 
jgion  interve- 
achod  to  the 

ong  other  ad- 
rse  with  Chi- 
(ortant.  The 
le  skins  and 
ria  and  Kam- 
in  return,  the 
lin,  and  other 
!  was  effected 
certain  jxjints 


e.T,  published  at 

ts  of  comfort  and 
linst  cold ;  while 
sss  of  every  rich 
ays  Kruseiisieii), 
,  which  is  undai 


1    1. 


in  each  empire ;  and  when  wo  consider  the  immense  distance,     icM. 
and  th(j  difficulties  of  the  journey  between  the  commercial  cities 
of  Muropean  Kussia  and  tliose  of  China,  it  becomes  evident  that 
none  butobicctsof  great  value,  in  con)parison  to  their  bulk,  could 
have  been  thus  transported  with  profit  to  those  engaged. 

The  })Ossession  of  these  vast  regions  only  served  to  inspire  the  nil. 
ambitious  Czar  with  designs  for  the  extension  of  his  iiuthority 
over  other  portions  of  the  earth.  Finding  his  dominions  limited 
by  the  ocean  in  the  east,  he  was  anxious  to  know  what  territories 
lay  beyond  that  barrier,  and  whether  it  would  not  be  possible  for 
him  to  invade  from  that  quarter  the  establishments  of  the  French, 
the  British,  or  the  Spaniards  in  America.  Influenced  by  such 
views,  he  ordered  that  vessels  should  be  built  in  Kamschatka, 
and  ecpiipped  for  voyages  of  discovery  to  be  :r'''de  agreeably  to 
instructions  which  he  liimselfdrew  up;  \  liile,  in  the  mean  time, 
other  vessels  should  pro(;eed  from  Archangel  eastward,  to  explore 
the  Arctic  or  Icy  Sea  and  the  northern  coasts  of  Asia. 

At  the  ])eriod  when  this  plan  was  nrninged  by  Peter  the  Cireat, 
it  was  not  known  whether  Asia  and  America  were  united  by  land 
in  the  north,  or  were  septirated  by  means  of  a  connexion  between 
the  Pacific  and  the  Icy  Sea-,  nor  had  it  indeed  been  iT^certained 
that  the  waters  which  bathed  the  shores  of  K.imsclr  comnm- 
nicuted  directly  with  the  Pacific,  although  this  wuo  considered 
most  ])robable  from  the  traditions  that  large  ships  had  been 
wrecked  upon  those  sliores.  The  solution  of  these  great  geo- 
graphical (juestions  was  the  first  object  proposed  by  the  Czar  in 
the  expeditions  ;  tlie  next  being  to  discover  the  most  practicable 
means  of  reaching  the  possessions  of  other  European  nations  in 
America. 

Various  circmnstances  prevented  the  execution  of  any  of  these 
projects  during  the  lifetime  of  Peter.  His  widow  and  successor,  17-25. 
Catherine,  however,  resolved  to  curry  them  into  fulfilment ;  and 
a  small  vessel  was  at  length,  in  1728,  built  and  equipped  at  the  17JS. 
mouth  of  the  river  of  Kamschatka,  on  the  eastern  side  of  that 
peninsula,  for  a  voyage  agreeably  to  the  instructions  of  the  Czar. 
The  connnand  of  the  expedition  was  intrusted  to  Vitus  Beering, 
a  Dane,  who  had  been  selected  f  )r  the  purpose  by  Peter  on  ac- 
count of  his  approved  courage  and  nautical  skill ;  his  lieutenants 
were  Alexei  Tschirikof,  a  Russian,  and  Martin  Spauberg,  a  Ger- 
man, both  of  whom  afterwards  rose  to  eminence  as  navigators. 

Beoring  sailed  from  Kamschatka  on  the  14th  of  July,  1728,  .inly  11. 
and  took  a  northward  course  along  the  Asiatic  shore,  which  he 
traced  as  far  as  the  latitude  of  67  degrees  18  minutes.  There  he 
found  the  coast  turning  almost  directly  eastward,  and  presenting  August  1.' 
nothing  but  rocks  and  snow  as  far  as  it  could  be  perceived,  while 
no  land  was  visible  in  the  north  or  the  east.  From  these  circum- 
stances, the  navigator  concluded  that  he  had  reached  the  north- 
eastern extremity  of  Asia,  and  tliat  the  waters  in  which  lie  was 
then  sailing  were  those  of  the  Icy  Sea.  Conceiving,  therefore, 
that  he  had  attained  the  objects  of  his  voyage  in  this  direction, 
and  fearing  that  if  he  should  proceed  farther  he  might  be  obliged 
to  winter  in  this  desolate  region,  for  which  he  was  unprepared, 


, 


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I,  1- 


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TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  UStO 

(716)872-4503 


2c 


60 


1728. 
Sept.  2. 


1729. 
June  5. 


1729 

to 

1711. 


1739. 

to 

1739. 


1    !  :; 


he  returned  to  Kamschatka,  where  he  arrived  in  safety  on  the 
2d  of  September.  In  this  voyage  Beering  had  twice,  without 
knowing  it,  passed  within  a  few  miles  of  the  American  continent, 
through  the  narrow  strait  upon  which  his  name  was,  fifty  years 
afterwards,  generously  bestowed  by  Cook. 

In  the  succeeding  year  Beering  sailed  again  from  Kamschat- 
ka, and,  taking  an  eastward  course,  endeavored  to  find  the  Amer- 
ican continent.  Ere  he  had  advanced  far  in  that  direction,  how- 
July  23.  ever,  he  was  assailed  by  violent  adverse  winds,  which  forced  him 
around  the  southern  extremity  of  the  peninsula  into  the  Sea  of 
Ochotsk.  After  this  ropulse,  he  went  to  St.  Petersburg,  and  en- 
gaged in  no  other  expedition  of  discovery  for  twelve  years. 

While  Beering  was  thus  remaining  inactive  at  the  Russian 
capital,  the  existence  of  a  direct  communication  between  the  Pa- 
cific and  the  sea  which  bathes  the  shores  of  Kamschatka  was  as- 
certained, first  by  the  shipwreck  of  a  Japanese  vessel  on  the 
eastern  side  of  that  peninsula  in  1729,  and  ten  years  afterwards  by 
the  voyages  of  two  Russian  vessels,  under  the  command,  respec- 
tively, of  Martin  Spanberg  and  William  Walton,  through  the  pas- 
sages between  the  Kurile  Islands  to  Japan.  Within  the  same  pe- 
riod, also,  the  continuity  of  the  Pacific  with  the  Atlantic  through 
the  Icy  Sea,  which  the  discoveries  of  Beering  had  given  reason  to 
suspect,  was  rewdered  nearly  if  not  absolutely  certain  by  means  of 
expeditions,  partly  by  land  and  partly  by  sea,  along  the  northern 
coasts  of  Europe  and  Asia ;  all  the  attempts,  however,  made  at  that 
time,  and  since,  to  pass  with  vessels  around  those  coasts,  from  ports 
in  Europe  to  the  Pacific,  proved  abortive.  Moreover,  a  Russian, 
named  Krupisheff,  had  sailed,  in  1732,  from  Kamschatka  north- 
ward, as  far  as  the  extreme  point  of  the  Asiatic  shore  reached  by 
Beering  in  his  first  voyage ;  thence  he  had  been  driven  by  storms 
towards  the  east,  upon  the  coast  of  an  extensive  and  mountainous 
territory  which  was  supposed  to  be,  and  undoubtedly  was,  a  part  of 
America.  Thus  the  great  geographical  questions  proposed  by  the 
Czar  Peter  were  determined,  and  the  practicability  of  a  com- 
munication by  sea  between  the  Russian  dominions  in  Asia  and 
the  Spanish  possessions  in  America  was  satisfactorily  proved. 

These  discoveries  encouraged  the  Empress  Anne,  who  occupied 
the  throne  of  Russia  when  they  were  completed,  to  persevere  in 
endeavoring  to  extend  her  authority  farther  eastward ;  and  she 
accordingly  commissioned  Beering  in  1740  to  superintend  anoth- 
er expedition  fi-om  Kamschatka  in  search  of  America.  For  this 
purpose  two  vessels  were  built  in  the  Bay  of  Avatscha,  on  the 
southeast  side  of  Kamschatka,  which  had  been  selected  for  the 
establishment  of  a  marine  depot ;  they  were  larger  and  more  fully 
equipped  than  any  of  those  employed  in  preceding  voyages  of 
discovery  in  that  quarter,  and  scientific  men  were  engaged  in 
France  and  Germany  to  accompany  Beering,  so  that  precise  in- 
formation might  be  obtained  on  all  points  connected  with  the  seas 
and  territories  to  be  explored.  Before  the  preparations  were  all 
made,  the  Empress  Anne  died ;  but  her  successor,  Elizabeth,  the 
daughter  of  Peter  the  Great,  immediately  declared  in  fuv^or  of  the 
enterprise,  and,  no  delays  being  experienced,  the  vessels  were 


1732, 


1740. 


both  ready : 
sailed  from 
Beering,  an 
Dane  in  his 
took  a  direi 
until  the  21 
storm,  after 

The  onlj 
after  his  sei 
ofSteller,  tl 
is  by  no  m( 
geography ; 
identify  ma 
the  voyage 
traced. 

From  th( 
Tschirikof, 
with  any  tl 
day,  land  v 
The  part  f 
traordinary 
it  became  \ 
they  sailed 
sively  othei 
with  snow 
interior  oft 
drawing  n 
into  the  se; 
mouth,  t 

These  e 
ther  with  i 
the  Russia] 
tinent.  M 
mander  th 
wards  the  i 
but  Beerir 
anxious  to 
quence  of 
ern  course 
row  passag 
latter  they 
eral  huts, 
their  occu] 
Kamschat 
the  Russia 
the  follow 


•  Steller's . 
in  1795;  befo 
was  containe 
lions  of  Russ 
may  be  founc 

t  No  sucl> 


ifety  on  the 
ice,  without 
a  continent, 
5,  fifty  years 

Kamschat- 
d  the  Arner- 
jction,  how- 
forced  him 
the  Sea  of 
Lirg,  and  en- 
years. 

he  Russian 
reen  the  Pa- 
atka  was  as- 
ssel  on  the 
fterwards  by 
land,  respec- 
ngh  the  pas- 
the  same  po- 
ntic through 
I'en  reason  to 
by  means  of 
the  northern 
made  at  that 
ts,  from  ports 
r,  a  Russian, 
;hatka  north - 
e  reached  by 
en  by  storms 
mountainous 
was,  a  part  of 
)posed  by  the 
^  of  a  com- 
in  Asia  and 
y  proved, 
ivho  occupied 
persevere  in 
ird ;  and  she 
ntend  anoth- 
ca.     For  this 
tscha,  on  the 
lected  for  the 
nd  more  fully 
ig  voyages  of 
B  engaged  in 
at  precise  in- 
Avith  the  seas 
lions  were  all 
:'jlizabeth,  the 
11  fav^or  of  the 
vessels  were 


both  ready  for  sea  by  June,  1741.  On  the  4th  of  that  month  they  1741. 
sailed  from  the  Bay  of  A  vatscha ;  the  larger  being  commanded  by 
Beering,  and  the  other  by  Tschirikof,  who  had  accompanied  the 
Dane  in  his  other  voyages.  On  leaving  the  harbor,  the  vessels 
took  a  directly  eastern  course,  and  thus  continued  in  company 
until  the  21st  of  June ;  on  that  day  they  were  separated  during  a 
storm,  after  which  they  never  again  met. 

The  only  regular  accounts  which  we  have  of  Beering's  voyage, 
after  his  separation  from  Tschirikof,  are  contained  in  the  Journal 
of  Steller,  the  surgeon  and  naturalist  of  the  ship.*  This  journal 
is  by  no  means  sufficiently  precise  upon  points  of  navigation  and 
geography;  in  consequence  of  which,  it  has  been  impossible  to 
identify  many  of  the  spots  described  by  him  as  discovered  during 
the  voyage,  although  the  general  course  of  the  vessel  may  be 
traced. 

From  these  accounts  we  learn  that  Beering,  after  parting  with 
Tschirikof,  continued  on  his  course  eastward,  without  meeting 
with  any  thing  worthy  of  note  until  the  15th  of  July ;  on  which  July  15. 
day,  land  was  seen  in  the  north,  near  the  60th  degree  of  latitude. 
The  part  first  descried  was  the  summit  of  a  mountain,  the  ex- 
traordinary elevation  of  which  may  be  surmised  from  the  fact  that 
it  became  visible  at  the  distance  of  more  than  eighty  miles.  As 
they  sailed  towards  this  point,  the  Russians  perceived  succes- 
sively other  lofty  peaks,  and  then  ridges  of  mountains,  all  covered 
with  snow,  and  stretching  along  the  coasts,  as  well  as  into  the 
interior  of  the  country,  to  the  utmost  limits  of  the  view ;  and,  upon 
drawing  nearer  to  the  land,  they  found  a  large  river  emptying 
into  the  sea,  the  current  of  which  was  felt  several  miles  from  its 
mouth,  t 

These  evidences  of  the  extensiveness  of  the  territory,  toge- 
ther with  its  geographical  position,  were  sufficient  to  convince 
the  Russians  that  they  had  at  length  reached  the  American  con- 
tinent. Many  of  the  officers  immediately  expressed  to  the  com- 
mander their  wishes  that  he  would  pursue  the  discovery  to- 
wards the  southeast,  in  which  direction  the  coast  appeared  to  turn ; 
but  Beering  was  then  laboring  under  severe  illness,  and  was 
anxious  to  arrive  in  Kamschatka  before  the  winter,  in  conse-  juiy  19. 
quence  of  which  he  gave  orders  that  they  should  take  a  west- 
ern course.  On  the  20th  of  the  month  they  anchored  in  a  nar-  July  20. 
row  passage  between  the  continent  and  a  small  island,  on  which 
latter  they  landed  in  search  of  water.  There  they  found  sev- 
eral huts,  which  appeared  to  have  been  recently  abandoned  by 
tlieir  occupants,  and  various  implements  similar  to  those  used  in 
Kamschatka;  none  of  the  natives,  however,  were  to  be  seen,  and 
the  Russians,  having  obtained  a  supply  of  water,  set  sail  again  on  July  21. 
the  following  day.  '  >. 


♦  Steller's  Journal  was  first  published  in  the  original  German  by  Professor  Pallas 
in  1795;  before  which  lime,  all  that  was  known  of  Beering's  voyage  to  America 
was  contained  in  a  meagre  audincorreclabstract  of  this  Journal  in  Muller's  Collec- 
tions of  Russian  History.  A  translation  of  the  most  material  parts  of  ihe  account 
may  be  found  in  Coxe's  History  of  Russian  Discoveries,  page  20. 

+  No  sucli  river  has  been  since  found  in  that  part  of  America. 


1 


I  t 


'Hvl 


•  iji' 


;  1) 


62 


July  21. 


Aug.  3 


Ji 


1741.  According  to  Steller,  the  name  of  St.  Elias  was  bestowed  by 
the  Russians  on  the  most  prominent  point  of  this  island,  in  honor 
of  the  patron  of  the  day  on  which  they  reached  it.  The  old  ac- 
counts of  the  expedition,  however,  state  that  Beering  gave  that 
name  to  the  lofty  mountain  which  had  first  attracted  his  attention. 
Steller  is  more  probably  correct,  as  the  20th  of  July  is  the  day  of 
Saint  Elias,  agreeably  to  the  calendar  of  the  Greek  church.  The 
stupendous  peak  rising  on  the  northwest  coast  of  America,  near 
the  60th  degree  of  latitude,  and  distinguished  on  our  maps  as 
Mount  Saint  Elias,  received  that  appellation  in  1778  from  Cook, 
who  considered  it  to  be,  as  it  doubtless  was,  the  same  observed 
by  Beering  in  1741.  Vancouver,  who  examined  this  coast  mi- 
nutely in  1794,  was  convinced  that  the  place  in  which  the  Rus- 
sians first  anchored  is  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  entrance  to  a  bay, 
now  generally  known  as  Becring''s,  and  sometimes  called  Admi- 
ralty Bay. 

From  the  island  on  which  they  had  first  touched,  the  Russians 
proceeded  towards  the  west ;  frequently  seeing  land  in  the  north, 
but  seldom  gping  near  enough  to  enable  them  to  distinguish  its 
character.  On  the  3d  of  August,  in  the  latitude  of  56  degrees,  a 
chain  of  high  mountains  appeared  ahead,  stretching  across  the 
horizon ;  and  as  they  knew  that  Kamschatka  was  still  far  dis- 
tant, they  concluded  that  the  land  before  them  was  either  a  great 
island,  or  a  peninsula  extending  southward  from  the  American 
continent.  They  in  consequence  altered  their  course  to  a  south- 
ern one  in  order  thus  to  reach  the  latitude  of  53  degrees,  where 
they  were  sure  of  finding  the  sea  open  on  the  west  as  far  as  Avat- 
scha.  The  distance  was  short,  but  they  were  so  much  impeded 
in  their  progress  by  contrary  winds  and  currents,  as  well  as  by 
their  fears  of  running  upon  shoals  and  small  islands,  that  by  the 
Aug.  29.  end  of  the  month  they  had  scarcely  advanced  fifty  miles  upon 
their  way.  By  this  time  the  crew  began  to  suffer  from  sickness 
and  fatigue,  and,  in  order  to  give  them  rest  and  to  procure  fresh 
water,  Beering  again  anchored  near  some  islands,  on  which  they 
remained  ashore  for  several  days.  While  they  were  lying  at  this 
place,  the  first  death  occurred  among  them ;  in  commemoration 
of  which,  the  group  of  islands  received  the  name  of  the  deceased 
sailor,  and  have  ever  since  been  known  as  Scliumagiri's  Isles.* 
Here,  also,  natives  of  America  were  first  seen  by  the  Russians ; 
they  resembled  the  Tschutzki,  or  aboriginals  of  northeastern 
Asia,  in  their  features  and  habits  ;  and  it  was  remarked  that  they 
used  implements  of  iron,  which  have  since  been  found  to  be  com- 
mon among  all  the  inhabitants  of  Northwest  America. 

After  leaving  Schumagin's  Islands,  the  Russians  discovered 
others,t  extending  in  a  chain  westward,  nearly  in  the  course  of 
the  53d  parallel  of  latitude,  which  they  passed  without  landing 
on  them,  being  anxious  to  reach  Kamschatka  before  the  begin- 


Aug, 


31. 


S<;pt. 


♦  They  are  in  number  twelve,  and  are  situated  near  the  latitude  of  55i  degrees, 
on  the  eastern  side,  and  not  far  irora  the  southern  extrenoity  of  the  great  peninsula 
of  Aliaska. 

t  The  Fox  Islands,  called  Unalashka,  Unimak,  &c. 


ning  of  the 

appointed. 

by  a  furioui 

sea  at  randc 

sening  theii 

again  saw  1 

island,  and 

With  this  1 

and  began 

soon,  howe 

from  the  \s 

dashed  to  p 

On  the  8 

ness  and  fa 

signed  to  tl 

Nearly  all  t 

the  whole  ( 

were  restor 

ported  then 

which  thej 

return  of  n 

of  the  piec( 

gust.    On  t 

from  the  w 

made  the  c 

they  landet 

sailed  in  th 

passed  moi 

situated  be 

i  from  the  ca 

;  Becring^s  . 

\      Such  w( 

I  other  vesse 

\  Avise  pursu 

j  of July, in 

I  ered  extenc 

with  high 

the  weathe 

cast  ancho 

men  in  a  b 

not  returni 

boat  with  f 

rection.   N 

learned  res 

for  several 

make  theii 

Tschirikof 

sail  for  Ka 

great  difllc 

his  crew ; 

of  Avatsch 

to  the  sixt( 


;; 


bestowed  by 
ind,  in  honor 
The  old  ac 
ng  gave  that 
his  attention, 
is  the  day  of 
iiurch.  The 
America,  near 
our  maps  as 
8  from  Cook, 
ime  observed 
lis  coast  mi- 
lich  the  Rus- 
mce  to  a  bay, 
called  Admi- 

the  Russians 

in  the  north, 
istinguish  its 
56  degrees,  a 
ig  across  the 

still  far  dis- 
either  a  great 
the  American 
se  to  a  south - 
Bgrees,  where 
IS  far  as  Avat- 
mch  impeded 
as  well  as  by 
s,  that  by  the 
y  miles  upon 
from  sickness 
procure  fresh 
n  which  they 
!  lying  at  this 
mmemoration 
"  the  deceased 
agiri's  Isles.* 
:he  Russians; 

northeastern 
ked  that  they 
nd  to  be  corn- 
ea. 

IS  discovered 
the  course  of 
hout  landing 
re  the  begin - 


e  of  55i  degrees, 
e  great  peninsula 


.1 


68 

ning  of  the  stormy  season.    In  this  expectation  they  were  dis-     1741, 
appointed.    About  the  middle  of  September  they  were  assailed  Sepi. 
by  a  furious  tempest,  and  for  several  weeks  were  driven  over  the 
sea  at  random,  while  famine,  disease,  and  despair  were  daily  les- 
sening their  numbers.    At  length,  on  the  5th  of  November  they 
again  saw  land  in  the  latitude  of  55  degrees ;  it  proved  to  be  an 
island,  and  on  it  they  resolved,  at  all  hazards,  to  pass  the  winter. 
With  this  view,  they  landed  their  stores  and  other  necessaries,  Nov.  7. 
and  began  to  construct  habitations  out  of  sails  and  spars ;  they 
soon,  however,  had  an  abundant  supply  of  building  materials 
from  the  wreck  of  their  vessel,  which  was  driven  ashore  and 
dashed  to  pieces  by  the  waves. 

On  the  8th  of  December  Beering  expired,  worn  down  by  sick-  Dec.  8. 
ness  and  fatigue ;  and  thirty  of  his  men  were  successively  con- 
signed to  their  graves  on  the  island  before  the  ensuing  summer.     1713. 
Nearly  all  these  deaths  were  occasioned  by  scurvy,  with  which 
the  whole  crew  were  affected  when  they  landed ;  the  survivors 
were  restored  to  health  by  the  free  use  of  fresh  water,  and  sup- 
ported themselves  chiefly  on  the  meat  of  sea  and  land  animals,  of 
which  tliey  killed  great  numbers  during  their  stay.    Upon  the 
return  of  mild  weather,  they  began  to  build  a  small  vessel  out    April. 
of  the  pieces  of  the  wreck,  which  they  got  ready  for  sea  in  Au- 
gust.   On  the  14th  of  that  month  they  departed  in  their  frail  boat  Aug.  ii. 
from  the  western  side  of  the  island ;  two  days  afterwards  they  Aug.  i«. 
made  the  coast  of  Kamschatka ;  and  on  the  evening  of  the  21st  Aug.  2i. 
they  landed,  forty-six  in  all,  at  the  place  from  which  they  had 
sailed  in  the  Bay  of  Avatscha.    The  island,  where  they  had  thus 
passed  more  than  nine  months,  is  a  long  and  narrow  slip  of  land, 
situated  between  the  parallels  of  55  and  56,  about  eighty  miles 
from  the  cast  coast  of  Kamschatka ;  it  has  ever  since  been  called 
Becring^s  Isle. 


1741. 


Such  were  the  occurrences  of  Beering's  last  voyage.  The 
other  vessel  employed  in  this  expedition  under  Tschirikof,  like- 
wise pursuing  an  eastward  course,  came  upon  land  on  the  15th  Julr  ir?. 
of  July,  in  the  latitude  of  56  degrees.  The  territory  thus  discov- 
ered extended  on  the  ocean  from  north  to  south ;  it  was  covered 
with  high  mountains,  and  its  coasts  were  steep  and  rocky.  As 
the  weather  was  unfavorable  for  approaching  the  land,  Tschirikof 
cast  anchor  at  the  distance  of  some  miles  from  it,  and  sent  ten 
men  in  a  boat  to  make  examinations ;  after  some  time,  these  men 
not  returning  nor  making  any  signals  from  the  shore,  a  second 
boat  with  six  others  of  the  crew  was  despatched  in  the  same  di- 
rection. Neither  of  these  parties  ever  returned,  nor  was  any  thing 
learned  respecting  their  fate ;  although  their  commander  remained 
for  several  days  cruising  near  the  coast,  in  hope  that  they  would 
make  their  appearance.  This  hope  having  entirely  vanished, 
Tschirikof  quitted  the  coast  which  he  had  discovered,  and  set 
sail  for  Kamschatka.  His  voyage  homeward  was  attended  with 
great  difficulties,  from  constant  storms,  and  from  the  sickness  of 
his  crew;  at  length,  on  the  8th  of  October,  he  reached  the  Bay 
of  Avatscha,  having  lost  twenty  one  men  by  scurvy,  in  addition 
to  the  sixteen  whose  fate  was  not  determined. 


July  2- 


Oct.  8. 


H 


1:1 


f^r, 


Hi. 


'  i' 


i' 


l\ 


■    ( 


64 


nil. 


m\ 


1741 

to 

i7(;4. 


174-2. 


1741 

10 

17G1. 


The  land  discovered  by  Tschirikof  in  1741  must  have  been, 
agreeably  to  his  statement  of  its  latitude  and  bearings,  the  west- 
ern side  of  one  of  the  islands  contiguous  to  the  American  con- 
tinent, which  are  now  called  on  English  maps  the  Pnnce  of 
Wales^s  Archipelago.  The  inhabitants  of  these  islands  are  fierce 
and  treacherous,  and  have  always  displayed  the  most  uncom- 
promising animosity  against  foreigners ;  it  is  therefore  most  prob- 
able that  the  men  sent  ashore  by  Tschirikof  were  murdered  as 
soon  as  they  landed. 

The  discoveries  effected  by  Beering  and  Tschirikof  in  this  ex- 
pedition were  not  considered  by  the  Russian  Government  of  suffi- 
cient importance  to  justify  the  immediate  despatch  of  other  vessels 
towards  the  American  coasts ;  and  accordingly  no  farther  attempts 
were  made  by  its  orders  to  explore  the  north  Pacific  until  1766. 
In  the  mean  time,  however,  accidental  circumstances  connected 
with  Beering's  voyage  had  turned  the  attention  of  private  indi- 
viduals in  Kamschatka  to  the  islands  seen  by  that  navigator  on 
his  return,  and  the  part  of  the  ocean  in  which  those  islands  are 
situated  had  been  thoroughly  searched. 

It  has  been  mentioned  that  the  crew  of  Beering's  vessel  had, 
during  the  period  passed  by  them  on  an  island  near  Kamschatka, 
subsisted  chiefly  on  the  flesh  of  the  land  and  sea  animals  which 
they  found  there  in  great  numbers.  The  skins  of  these  animals, 
particularly  of  the  foxes  and  sea-otters,  were  preserved  by  the 
men,  and  carried  in  their  boat  to  Kamschatka,  where  they  were 
sold  for  such  high  prices  that  many  persons  were  induced  imme- 
diately to  go  to  the  island  and  procure  farther  supplies.  In  the 
course  of  the  voyages  made  for  this  purpose,  other  islands  were 
discovered,  offering  the  same  advantages ;  and  the  number  of  per- 
sons engaged  in  the  search  for  furs  was  increased. 

The  trade  thus  commenced  was  for  some  time  carried  on  by 
individual  adventurers,  each  of  Avhom,  acting  only  for  his  own 
benefit,  was  alternately  a  seaman,  a  hunter,  and  a  merchant.  At 
length,  however,  some  capitalists  in  Siberia  employed  their  funds 
in  the  pursuit ;  and  the  expeditions  to  the  islands  were  in  conse- 
quence made  on  a  more  extensive  scale,  and  were  conducted  with 
greater  regularity  and  efficiency.  Trading  stations  were  estab- 
lished at  particular  points,  where  the  furs  were  collected  by  ])er- 
sons  left  there  for  the  purpose ;  and  vessels  were  sent  at  certain 
periods,  from  the  ports  of  Asiatic  Russia,  to  carry  the  articles  re- 
quired for  the  use  of  the  agents,  or  for  barter  with  the  natives  of 
the  islands,  and  to  bring  away  the  skins  which  had  been  pro- 
cured. 

The  aborigines  of  the  islands  were  a  bold  and  savage  race, 
whom  it  was  found  almost  impossible  to  subdue  or  to  conciliate  -, 
they  attacked  and  murdered  the  strangers  whenever  an  opportu- 
nity was  offered,  and  Ihc  Russians  appear  to  have  treated  them, 
in  return,  with  great  cruelty  and  oppression.  In  the  smaller 
islands,  the  natives  were  soon  extirpated  or  reduced  to  absolute 
slavery  by  the  traders,  who  employed  every  means  to  force  them 
to  hunt  and  fish  for  the  animals  yielding  the  furs.  The  poor  sav- 
ages were  required  by  their  taskmasters  to  procure  a  certain  num 


ber  of  skin 
for  their  qi 
give  up  th( 
the  mount 
habitants,  ^ 
strangers. 

In  additi 
sioned,  a  k 
and  convey 
ration,  shi] 
first  establi 
indeed,  litt 
and  suffer] 
to  the  hun] 
prises,  we  < 
they  displa 

The  isla 
traders  wei 
itude,  exte 
Kamschatl 
posite  Ame 
by  the  ger 
ent,  howe\ 
the  most  w 
die  group 
the  Pot  Isi 
and  Unimj 
at  a  short  d 
discovered 
farther  in 
island  in  t 
to  which  t 
the  only  p 
was  the  cc 

As  the  t 
longitudes 
places  in 
rect.    Th( 
manner  pc 
scha,  or  tl 
ceed  fer  w 
chain,  wh 
and  thus 
the  place 
Asia;  and 
erable  atte 
she  were  i 


•  The  nar 
found  in  Co 
the  narrativt 
vessels  empl 


I 


65 


t  have  been, 
igs,  the  west- 

mericaii  con- 
he  Prince  oj 
nds  are  fierce 
most  uncom- 
re  most  prob- 

murdered  as 

of  in  this  ex- 
men  t  of  sufR- 
■  other  vessels 
rther  attempts 
ic  until  1766. 
es  connected 
private  indi- 
navigator  on 
3e  islands  are 

's  vessel  had, 
Kamschatka, 
nimals  which 
these  animals, 
erved  by  the 
ere  they  were 
pduced  imme- 
plies.  In  the 
r  islands  were 
lumber  of  per- 

carried  on  by 
y  for  his  own 
nerchant.  At 
ed  their  funds 
vere  in  conse- 
)nducted  with 
IS  were  estab- 
lected  by  ])er- 
ent  at  certain 
he  articles  re- 
the  natives  of 
lad  been  pro- 
savage  race, 
to  conciliate ; 
;r  an  opportu- 
treated  them, 
I  the  smaller 
id  to  absolute 
to  force  them 
riie  poor  sav- 
certain  num 


i 


A 


ber  of  skins  during  each  season ;  for  the  delivery  of  which,  and 
for  their  quiet  behavior  in  the  mean  time,  they  were  obliged  to 
give  up  their  children  as  hostages.  In  the  larger  islands,  where 
the  mountains  afforded  facilities  for  retreat  or  defence  to  the  in- 
habitants, wars  were  constantly  going  on  between  them  and  the 
strangers. 

In  addition  to  the  miseries  and  loss  of  human  life  thus  occa- 
sioned, a  large  proportion  of  the  persons  engaged  in  the  collection 
and  conveyance  of  the  furs  were  annually  destroyed  by  cold,  star- 
vation, shipwreck,  and  especially  by  scurvy.  The  history  of  the 
first  establishment  of  the  Russians  in  this  quarter  of  the  world  is, 
indeed,  littlo  else  than  a  series  of  accounts  of  dreadful  disasters 
and  sufferings ;  and  whatever  may  be  our  opinions  with  regard 
to  the  humanity  of  the  adventurers,  or  the  morality  of  their  enter- 
prises, we  cannot  but  admire  the  courage  and  perseverance  which 
they  displayed  in  struggling  against  such  appalling  difficulties.* 

The  islands  thus  discovered  and  conquered  by  the  Russian  fur- 
traders  were  those  between  the  53d  and  the  55th  parallels  of  lat- 
itude, extending  in  a  regular  line  or  chain  from  the  vicinity  of 
Kamschatka,  eastward  across  the  sea,  to  the  extremity  of  the  op- 
posite American  peninsula  of  Aliaska.  They  were  at  first  known 
by  the  general  name  of  Aleyntsky,  or  Aleutian  Islands ;  at  pres- 
ent, however,  they  are  considered  as  divided  into  three  groups, 
the  most  western  of  which  retains  the  name  of  ^/ew^ian,  the  mid- 
dle group  being  called  the  Andreanowsky,  and  the  most  eastern 
the  Fox  Islands.  The  latter  division  includes  Unalashka,  Umnak, 
and  Unimak,  the  largest  and  most  important  islands  of  the  chain ; 
at  a  short  distance  northeast  from  these  are  the  Schumagin  Islands, 
discovered  by  Beering,  and  named  after  one  of  his  crew ;  and  still 
farther  in  the  same  direction  is  Kodiak  or  Kuktak,  the  largest 
island  in  this  part  of  the  Pacific.  Kodiak  was  the  extreme  point 
to  which  the  for- traders  had  penetrated  in  1778;  before  that  time 
the  only  portion  of  the  American  continent  frequented  by  them 
was  the  coast  of  Aliaska,  which  they  believed  to  be  an  island. 

As  the  traders  had  no  instruments  for  determining  latitudes  or 
longitudes  with  precision,  their  ideas  of  the  relative  situations  of 
places  in  the  north  Pacific  were  exceedingly  vague  and  incor- 
rect. Their  navigation  was  conducted  in  the  most  inartificial 
manner  possible.  A  vessel  sailing  eastward  from  the  Bay  of  Avat- 
scha,  or  the  southern  extremity  of  Kamschatka,  could  not  pro- 
ceed fer  without  falling  in  with  one  of  the  islands  of  the  Aleutian 
chain,  which  would  serve  as  a  mark  for  her  course  to  another; 
and  thus  she  might  go  on  from  point  to  point,  until  she  reached 
the  place  of  her  destmation.  In  like  manner  she  would  return  to 
Asia ;  and,  if  her  course  and  rate  of  sailing  were  observed  with  tol- 
erable attention,  there  could  seldom  be  any  uncertainty  whether 
she  were  north  or  south  of  the  line  of  the  islands.  A  great  number 


•  The  narratives  of  many  of  these  expeditions  of  the  Russian  fur-traders  may  be 
found  in  Coxe's  interesting  "  Account  of  Russian  Discoveries."  Krusenstern,  in 
the  narrative  of  his  voyage  to  the  north  Pacific,  stales  that  at  least  one-third  of  the 
vessels  employed  in  this  trade  were  lost  every  year.    See  poHia,  chapter  viii. 


1711 

tu 

17til, 


* 


""1 


If 


f     !  I 


i.   1' 


4. 


i. 


I   4  I 


96 


H- 


Urn 

'It 

III 

Ij 

11 

n  ' 

ill 

13  UU 

I 

at 

1741 

to 

17(54. 


17C1. 


17fi6. 


of  vessels  were,  however,  lost  every  yoiir,  in  consequence  of  this 
want  of  knowledge  respecting  the  coasts,  and  want  of  means  to 
ascertain  positions  at  sea. 

The  Russian  Government  remained  f<jr  some  time  unacquaint- 
ed with  the  extent  of  this  trade,  and,  indeed,  with  the  existence 
of  the  islands  discovered  by  its  subjects.  At  length,  in  1764,  the 
Empress  Catherine  II.  ordered  that  measures  should  be  taken  to 
procure  exact  information  upon  these  points,  as  also  with  regard 
to  the  general  direction  of  the  west  coasts  of  America,  and  their 
distance  from  those  of  her  own  dominions  in  Asia.  This  ambi- 
tious Sovereign  had  then  just  ascended  the  throne,  and  seemed 
determined  to  carry  into  fulfilment  the  designs  of  Peter  the  Great 
for  the  extension  of  the  Russian  empire  beyond  the  Pacific. 

The  first  voyage  made  by  order  of  Catlierine  II.  for  these  pur- 
poses was  that  of  Lieutenant  Synd,  who  in  1766  and  1767  sailed 
through  the  seas  northeast  of  Karnschatka.  Very  few  particulars 
concerning  his  expedition  have  been  published,  from  the  cir- 
cumstance, probably,  that  they  were  not  calculated  to  reflect  cred- 
it on  the  nation.  By  the  accounts  which  have  transpired,  it  ap- 
pears tliat  he  proceeded  northwardly,  along  the  Asiatic  shore, 
into  the  Arctic  Ocean;  and  that  he  may  have  seen  the  American 
continent,  about  the  64th  degree  of  latitude,  as  he  was  returning. 

In  the  following  year,  1768,  another  expedition  was  com- 
menced, for  the  purpose  of  surveying  the  islands  discovered  by  the 
fur-traders.  With  this  view.  Captain  Krenitzin  and  Lieutenant 
Levashef  sailed  from  the  mouth  of  Kamschatka  river,  each  in 
command  of  a  small  vessel ;  and,  after  examining  Beering's 
Island,  and  some  others  nearest  the  coast  of  Asia,  they  stretched 
across  to  the  Fox  Islands,  among  which  they  passed  the  winter. 
Before  the  ensuing  summer  nearly  half  the  crews  of  both  vessels 
had  perished  from  scurvy ;  and  when  the  navigators  returned  to 
Kamschatka  in  the  autumn  of  1769,  they  had  only  ascertained  ap- 
proximately the  positions  of  a  few  points  in  the  chain  of  islands  be- 
tween that  peninsula  and  Aliaska.  It  is,  indeed,  said  that  Krenitzin 
employed  himself  entirely  in  trading  for  furs,  with  which  his  ves- 
sel was  laden  when  she  came  back  from  her  voyage.  The  only 
valuable  information  derived  by  the  Russian  Government  from 
this  costly  expedition  was  respecting  the  mode  of  conducting  the 
fur  trade  in  the  islands ;  upon  this  subject  the  reports  of  Levashef 
were  curious  and  interesting,  and  they  served  to  direct  the  Gov- 
ernment in  its  first  administrative  dispositions  with  regard  to 
these  countries. 

The  expedition  of  Krenitzin  and  Levashef  was  the  last  made 
by  the  Russians  in  the  north  Pacific,  for  purposes  of  discovery  or 
investigation,  before  1783.  In  1771,  however,  took  place  the  first 
voyage  fi^m  the  eastern  coast  of  the  Russian  empire,  to  a  port 
fi-equented  by  the  ships  of  European  nations;  and,  strange  to  say, 
this  voyage  was  conducted  under  the  Polish ^g!  In  the  month 
of  May  of  that  year,  a  small  number  of  persons,  chiefly  Poles, 
who  had  been  exiled  to  Kamschatka,  succeeded  in  overpowering 
the  garrison  of  Bolscheretsk,  a  place  situated  on  the  southwest 
May  11.  side  of  that  peninsula,  in  which  they  were  detained,  and  escaped 


1768. 

July  23. 
July  27. 


1769. 


1771. 


to  sea  ui  5 
in  their  ei 
rian,  whc 
wrote  a  h 
that  the  fi 
wardly  ai( 
itude,  du 
American 
they  foun 
possessior 
tliey  also 
disco  vere( 
Krenitzin 
south, the 
rile,  Japa 
length  an 
were  at  fl 
firmed  as 

In  1774 
ago  of  the 
htj  J.  L.  »S 
was  publi; 
of  the  Go 
universall 
translated 
as  the  ba 
Ocean  un 
extended 
nia,  in  a 
latitude, 
opposite 
lands,  scM 
Aleutian 
very  diflfe 
representt 
arated  fro 
large  and 
by  Tresc 
of  Asia  ai 
except  th 
25  degree 

The  er] 
to  ten  rieg 
expected, 
his  voyag 
between 
mated,  ex 


•  Memoir 
himself.    2 

t  That  is, 
steered  by  it 
lee- way,  &c 


ucncc  of  this 
it  of  means  to 

e  unac(juaint- 
the  existence 
,  in  1764,  the 
Id  be  taken  to 
!0  with  regard 
rica,  and  their 
This  ambi- 
!,  and  seemed 
eter  the  Great 
1  Pacific, 
for  these  pur- 
id  1767  sailed 
e\v  particulars 
from  the  cir- 
to  reflect  crcd- 
nspired,  it  ap- 
Asiatic  shore, 
the  American 
was  returning, 
on  was  corn- 
covered  by  the 
nd  Lieutenant 
river,  each  in 
nig  Beering's 
they  stretched 
led  the  winter, 
if  both  vessels 
ors  returned  to 
iscertained  ap- 
1  of  islands  be- 
that  Krenitzin 
which  his  ves- 
ge.    The  only 
ernment  from 
onducting  the 
rts  of  Levashef 
iirect  the  Gov- 
vith  regard  to 

the  last  made 

of  discovery  or 

:  place  the  first 

ipire,  to  a  port 

strange  to  say, 

In  the  month 

chiefly  Poles, 

overpowering 

the  southwest 

i,  and  escaped 


If 


67 

to  sea  in  a  vessel  then  lying  in  the  harbor.  They  were  directed  1771. 
in  their  enterprise  by  Count  Maurice  de  Benyovvsky,  a  Hunga- 
rian, who  had  been  in  the  Polish  service,  and  who  afterwards 
wrote  a  history  of  his  own  life.*  From  his  accounts,  it  apjiears 
that  the  fugitives,  upon  entering  tlio  Pacific,  were  driven  north- 
wardly along  the  coast  of  Asia,  as  far  as  the  66th  degree  of  lat- 
itude, during  which  part  of  tlicir  voyage  they  also  saw  the 
American  continent.  At  Beering's  Island,  which  they  visited,  june. 
they  found  a  number  of  fugitives  like  themselves,  cstablifihed  in 
possession,  under  the  command  of  a  Saxon  named  Ochotyn ; 
they  also  landed  on  several  of  the  Aleutian  Islands,  where  they 
discovered  crosses  with  inscriptions,  which  had  been  erected  by 
Krenitzin  while  on  his  expedition.  Proceeding  towards  the 
south,  they  touched  in  succession  at  various  places  in  the  Ku- 
rile,  Japanese,  and  Loochoo  Islands,  and  in  Konuosa,  and  at 
length  arrived  in  September  at  Canton.  Benyowsky's  accounts  Pept.CH. 
were  at  first  discredited ;  they  have,  however,  been  since  con- 
firmed as  regards  the  most  material  circumstances. 

In  1774,  a  work  entitled  "  .1  Description  of  the  New  Archipcl-  1771. 
ago  of  the  North,  f/i.scovered  bij  the  Russimui,  beyond  Kdinschat/cu, 
bij  J.  L.  Strahlin,  Vounvillor  of  State  to  the  Empress  of  Russia,'''' 
was  published  at  St.  Petersburg,  under  the  immediate  direction 
of  the  Government.  Accounts  coining  from  such  a  source  were 
universally  considered  as  authentic  and  accurate  ;  the  work  was 
translated  into  all  the  principal  languages  of  Europe,  and  it  served 
as  the  basis  for  all  maps  and  descriptions  of  the  north  Pacific 
Ocean  until  1785.  According  to  Strffhlin,  the  American  coast 
extended  on  the  Pacific,  from  the  southern  extremity  of  Califor- 
nia, in  a  line  nearly  due  northwestward,  to  the  70th  degree  of 
latitude.  Between  the  most  northern  part  of  this  coast  and  the 
opposite  shores  of  Asia  were  placed  on  his  map  a  immber  of  is- 
lands, several  of  which  correspond  in  name  with  those  of  the 
Aleutian  chain;  but  the  positions  there  assigned  to  them  were 
very  diflferent  from  those  now  known  to  be  correct.  Aliaska  was 
represented  as  an  island  lying  beyond  the  55th  parallel,  and  sep- 
arated from  each  of  the  adjacent  continents  by  a  strait.  In  the 
large  and  beautifully  engraved  Latin  map  of  the  Russian  Empire, 
by  Treschot  and  Schniidt,  published  in  1776,  on  which  the  coasts 
of  Asia  are  all  laid  down  with  great  apparent  precision,  no  lard 
except  the  Aleutian  Islands  appears  east  of  Kamschatka,  wi'h  r 
25  degrees  of  longitude. 

The  errors  of  latitude  in  these  maps  amounted,  in  many  cases, 
to  ten  degrees,  and  those  of  longitude  were,  as  might  have  been 
expected,  much  greater.  Indeed,  until  1778,  when  Cook  made 
his  voyage  through  the  north  Pacific,  the  diflerences  in  longitude 
between  places  in  that  part  of  the  ocean  had  never  been  esti- 
mated, except  by  the  dead  reckoning,t  which,  however  carefully 


•  Memoirs  ami  Travels  of  Count  Mniiriiius  Augustus  de  Benyowsky,  written  by 
him^^elf.    2  vols,  oeiavo:  London,  1790. 

t  That  is,  "by  keeping  an  account  of  the  distance  run  by  the  log,  and  of  her  course 
steered  by  the  compass,  and  rectifying  these  data  by  the  usual  allowances  for  drilt, 
lee- way,  &c.,  according  to  the  ship's  known  trim."'— Falconer's  Marine  Dictionary. 


I 


^1' 


f 


68 


I '  Zl 


1771.  observed,  cannot  afford  accurate  results;  nor  had  any  relation, 
which  could  be  considered  us  nearly  correct,  been  established  be- 
tween the  meridians  of  a  point  on  the  Atlantic  and  of  one  on  th«' 
north  Pacific.  The  above  remarks  on  the  extent  of  the  informa- 
tion with  regard  to  the  northwest  coast  of  America  possessed  in 
1774,  by  those  who  had  taken  the  greatest  pains  to  procure  it, 
will  serve  to  show  more  clearly  the  value  of  the  discoveries  ef- 
fected by  the  Spanish  and  British  navigators  during  the  five 
years  immediately  succeeding  that  period.  It  may  be  added,  that 
no  further  attempts  were  made  by  the  Russians  to  increase  their 
knowledge  of  this  part  of  the  world  until  1783. 


Voyages  of  dis 
between  1774 
through  the  i 

In  the  pr 

the  Spaniari 
north  as  the 
ward  across 
covered  bej 
territories,  a> 
continent, 
eluded  betv 
counts  had 
European  n 
tury.  The 
the  two  grei 
by  the  ocea 
extension  a 
the  conjecti 
quent  obser 
In  1774, 
days  of  Viz( 
latitude.  F 
by  the  Vice 
Juan  Perez 
Martinez  as 
far  as  the  i 
shores  sout 
Of  this  6 
I  sented.  T 
I  formation  r 
{principal  oc 
tive  of  the 
was  in  that 
In  addition 
communica 
as  derived  i 
the  chaplaii 
at  Mexico, 
subject,  the 
drawn. 

From  Sa 
tinued  his  ^ 
the  coast,  ii 
should  con 


any  relation, 
itablishod  be- 
>f  ono  on  the 
the  informa- 
possessed  in 
to  procure  it, 
iscoveries  ef- 
ring  tho  five 
ic  added,  that 
ncrease  their 


■ 


I 


CHAPTER    IV. 

Voyages  or  discovery  in  the  north  Pacific,  made  by  the  Spaniards  and  the  British, 
between  1774  ond  1779 — Voyages  of  Perez,  Heneia,  Bodega,  and  Cooic— Journeyr* 
through  the  not  ihern  parts  of  America,  made  by  Hearne  and  Carver. 

In  the  preceding  pages,  it  has  been  shown  that,  before  1774, 
the  Spaniards  had  examined  the  western  coast  of  America  as  far 
north  as  the  43d  degree  of  latitude ;  and  the  Russians,  sailing  cast- 
ward  across  the  Pacific,  from  their  dominions  in  Asia,  had  dis- 
covered beyond  the  66th  degree  many  islands,  as  well  as  other 
territories,  which  were  supposed  to  be  parts  of  the  first  mentioned 
continent.  Respecting  the  portion  of  the  American  coast  in- 
cluded between  these  two  parallels  of  latitude,  no  definite  ac- 
counts had  been  obtained,  although  it  was  probably  visited  by 
European  navigators  during  the  latter  years  of  tho  sixteenth  cen- 
tury. The  discoveries  of  the  Russians  had  served  to  prove  that 
the  two  great  continents  were  entirely  separated  from  each  other 
by  the  ocean,  but  they  had  afforded  little  information  as  to  the 
extension  and  limits  of  America  in  the  northwest ;  and  few  of 
the  conjectures  based  upon  them  have  been  confirmed  by  subse- 
quent observations. 

In  1774,  the  Spaniards  attempted,  for  the  first  ti*ne  since  the  1774. 
days  of  Vizcaino,  to  explore  this  coast  beyond  the  43d  degree  of 
latitude.  For  that  purpose,  the  corvette  Santiago  was  despatched 
by  the  Viceroy  of  Mexico  from  San  Bias,  under  the  command  of 
Juan  Perez,  an  ensign  in  the  Spanish  navy,  with  Estevan  Jose 
Martinez  as  pilot.  They  were  ordered  to  proceed,  if  possible,  as 
far  as  the  60th  degree  of  latitude,  and  thence  to  examine  the 
shores  southward  to  Monterey. 

Of  this  expedition  a  very  imperfect  account  only  can  be  pre- 
sented. The  Spanish  Government  carefully  concealed  all  in- 
formation respecting  it  until  1802,  when  a  short  sketch  of  the 
principal  occurrences  appeared  in  the  Introduction  to  the  Narra- 
tive of  the  Voyage  of  the  Schooners  Sutil  and  Mexicana,  which 
was  in  that  year  published  at  Madrid,  by  authority  of  the  King. 
In  addition  to  this  official  notice,  a  few  particulars  have  been 
communicated  by  Baron  Humboldt,  in  his  Essay  on  New  Spain, 
as  derived  from  the  original  Journal  of  Fathers  Crespi  and  PeBa, 
the  chaplains  of  the  Santiago,  which  he  was  permitted  to  inspect 
at  Mexico.  From  these,  the  only  sources  of  knowledge  on  the 
subject,  the  following  account  of  the  voyage  of  Perez  has  been 
drawn. 

From  San  Bias,  Perez  sailed  first  to  Monterey,  and  thence  don-  Jan.  95. 
tinned  his  voyage  towards  the  north,  keeping  at  a  distance  firom 
the  coast,  in  order  to  reach  a  high  latitude  before  the  cold  weather 
should  commence     The  land  next  seen  by  him  was  near  the 
.  6 


ili 


:M 


!:H.     ; 


( 

I' 

'•        i 

'it  i 

U 

',1 

; 

;. 

i 

i.  ' 

'      1 

fO 


1T74.    B4fh  parnllol,  nnd  must  Imve  horn  tho  ni    iliwostcrn  pnrt  of  Qupon 
Jiily','0.  (•|i;ii-|,)tU''s  [sliiiid.    AlUT  a  (Mirsorv  cxiimination  of  this  coiiNt,  lie 


All! 


ry 
pnu'ccdt'd  towjirds  llic  stuitli,  occiisMMinlly  srcini,'  the  land ;  and 
.0.  at  length,  in  the  latitude  of  W)^  (h'l^rees,  he  diseoven.'d  and  cii- 
tered  a  hay,  to  which  he  jjfave  the  name  of  /V/  San  Loirftzo.* 
Here  ho  traded  with  the  natives,  who  surrounded  his  vessel  in 
great  nuinhers,  olVering  the  skins  of  animals  in  return  li)r  artiilcs 
of  iron,  with  whieh  metal  th(.<y  wen;  already  ac(|uainted.  I'Voiii 
this  hay  Penjz  sailed  on  the  lOth  of  August ;  and  as  he  arrived 
at  Monterey  on  th(!  27th  of  tho  sumo  month,  it  is  not  prohabic 
that  he  examined  very  mimitely  the  roast  lyiny  hetween  the  two 
places.  Martinez,  the  pilot  of  the  ship,  however,  in  1 7b*.),  asserted 
that  a  passage!  extendmg  eastwardly  hetween  tho  4yth  and  4\hli 
parallels  had  been  found,  and  entered  by  his  connnauder  soon 
ttllcr  quitting  Port  San  Lorenzo ;  uiK)n  the  strength  of  which  as 
sertion,  Navarrcte  assigns  to  Perez  the  discovery  of  the  arm  of  tlu 
sea  now  called  tho  .Strait  of  Fuca,  and  in  his  map  bc^stows  tho 
name  of  Point  Marlinez  on  tho  capo  at  the  southern  side  of  its 
entrance. 

From  this  account  of  the  voyage  of  Perez,  it  will  bo  seen  that 
little  information  was  obtained  by  him  with  regard  to  the  north- 
west coast  of  America.  If  the  latitude  of  I'ort  San  Lorenzo  be 
correctly  reiKirted  in  the  accounts  of  the  expedition,  (and  wo  havt; 
no  reason  lor  supposing  otherwise,)  that  bay  must  have  been  the 
same  to  which  Cook,  four  years  afterwanis,  gave  the  name  ol 
Kin!!  (Jenr-n\s  Souti(f,nml  wliich  is  now  known  as  Nontka  Smmil. 
The  opanish  (Government,  however,  by  concealing  all  accounts 
of  the  voyage  of  Perez  until  long  after  the  publication  of  the  jour- 
nals of  Cook,  deprived  itself  of  the  means  of  establishing  the 
claims  of  its  subjects  to  the  merit  of  tlic  discovery,  which  is  al- 
most universally  attributed  to  the  British  navigator. 
1775.  Immediately  after  the  return  of  Perez,  the  Viceroy  of  Mexico. 
Don  Antonio  Uucareli,  ordered  that  a\iother  expedition  should  be 
made  to  the  north  Pacific,  for  the  purpose  of  examining  the  whole 
shore  of  the  continent,  from  Capo  Mendocino  as  far,  if  possible, 
as  the  OjiIi  degree  of  latitude.  With  this  view,  the  Santiago  was 
placed  under  the  command  of  Captain  Bruno  Heceta,  Juan  Perez 
going  in  her  as  ensign  ;  and  she  was  to  be  accompanied  by  the 
Sonora,  a  schooner  of  not  more  than  thirty  tons  burden,  of  which 
Juan  de  Ayala  was  the  chief  officer,  and  Antonio  Maurelle  tho 

Eilot.  From  the  Journal  of  Maurelle,  as  translated  into  English 
y  the  honorable  Daines  Barrington,  and  published  at  London  in 
1781,  nearly  all  that  is  known  respecting  the  expedition  has  been 
derived.  This  Journal  is  confined  almost  entirely  to  the  occur- 
rences on  board  of  the  schooner;  concerning  the  movements  ot 
the  Santiago,  we  have  only  a  few  indistinct  notices,  in  the  Intro- 
duction to  the  Narrative  of  the  Voyage  of  the  Sutil  and  Mexicana, 
The  most  material  fucts  collected  from  these  sources  are  the  fol 
lowing : 


*  The  lOth  of  August  is  the  day  uf  San  Lorenzu,  (St.  Lawrence,)  according  to  tlie  | 
Roman  Catholic  Calendar. 


The  twfi 
year,  .sailed 
fSuii  (Jarlo.s 
scl  had  pro( 
ill  consequi 
place.  Lieu 
connnand  r 
b(!cause,  in 
sonted  as  I 
only  acx'oni 
tcrey.* 

'riie  expl 
(Jape  Mend 
in  a  small  c 
degrees  3  n 
uhid,  the  fc 
their  vessel 
communlcti 
be  a  mild  a 
across  neai 
of  their  vis 
ing  tcrritor 
standing  b\ 
navigator  d 
name  of  a  / 

On  leavi 
from  the  h 
July,  whei 
(tc  /Aim  wi 
through  th( 
tain  the  tru 
soon  saw  t 
have  been 
and  Q,uadr 
Strait.  Tl 
coast,  and 
mouth  of  t 
tincnt  and 
tune ;  seve: 
shore  in  sei 
dered  imrn 


♦  Barrinelo 
is  a  rare  wurk 
ivporis,  and  r 
lafteii  d'ri'clly 
tlie  inirodncti 
liie  iti^truclioii 
giapliipal  kno 
the  Spaniards 
contrived,  to  f 
t(i  the  expedil; 
jiist  or  iliiherM 
is  his  assigum 


pnrt  of  Qiipon 

tlllN  const,  lie 

Ih>  latid ;  luid 

cnsd  imd  on- 

'an  Lnri'nzn.* 

his  vt'sst'l  in 

rii  li>r  arfii'li's 

iritcd.     l''roiu 

us  ho  arrived 

not  prohablc 

W(M'ii  the  tuii 

1 7K>,  assorted 

48th  and  4«hli 

iiiiuuidor  soon 

I  of  which  as- 

the  anil  of  tin 

)  bostows  the 

rii  side  of  itj* 

II  ho  soon  that 
I  to  tho  iiortli- 
in  Lorenzo  be 

(and  wo  iiavi; 
havo  boon  tlie 
;  tho  name  ol 
Nontlcn  Sound. 
b;  all  acconnts 
on  of  the  jour- 
tablishing  tin: 
y,  which  is  nl- 
r. 

roy  of  Mexico, 
tion  should  bo 
iiing  the  whole 
fur,  if  possible, 
e  Santiago  was 
3ta,  Juan  Perez 
ipaniod  by  the 
irden,  of  which 
0  Maurolle  the 
d  into  English 
d  at  London  in 
dition  has  been 
y  to  the  occur- 

movements  of 
IS,  in  the  Intro- 

and  Mexicanu. 
rces  are  tlie  fol- 


e,)  according  to  Uie 


i 


tl 

Tho  two  vessels  having  boon  provisioned  for  a  voyage  of  a  17:5. 
year,  sailed  togotlu  r  Croni  San  Ulas,  in  company  with  the  schooner  Mar.  10 
San  (Jarlos,  which  was  bound  for  Monterey.  I'.rc  tho  latter  ves- 
sel hud  proceeded  far  from  the  land,  horcnptuin  became  delirious; 
in  consequence  of  which,  Jnun  de  Ayala  was  onlered  to  take  his 
place,  Lientenutit  Juan  Pruncisco  do  fa  Ilodegu  succca'ding  toth«' 
command  of  tho  Sonoru.  This  circmnstanco  is  here  mentioned, 
because,  in  nearly  all  the  accounts  of  the  voyage,  Ayulu  is  repre- 
sented us  the  pnncipul  officer  in  command,  wlx'reiis  ho  in  iiict 
only  accompanied  tho  exploring  vessels  to  the  vicinity  of  Mon- 
terey.* 

The  exploring  vessels,  after  parting  with  the  San  (,'arlos,  made 
('ape  Mendocino  on  the  7th  of  June,  and  on  the  lOlli  cast  anchor  juae'. 
ill  a  small  cove  just  beyond  that  promontory,  in  the  latitude  of  41 
degrees  3  minutes.  At  this  plac(f,  which  was  named  Port  Trln- 
ufdff,  the  Spaniards  remained  nine  days,  employiid  in  refitting 
tlioir  vessels  and  taking  in  water.  During  this  time,  they  held 
communications  witli  the  natives  of  the  country,  who  apiKJured  to 
bo  u  mild  and  tractable  race ;  und  on  their  departure,  they  erected 
across  near  tho  shore,  with  an  inscription  sotting  f»rtli  the  period 
of  their  visit,  and  the  rights  of  their  Sovoroi'Mi  to  the  surround- 
ing territory,  founded  upon  the  discovery.  This  cross  was  seen 
standing  by  Vancouver,  who  landed  there  in  llW.i;  the  English 
navigator  tiid  not,  however,  considtsr  the  place  as  meriting  the 
name  of  a  porL 

On  leaving  Port  Trinidad,  the  Spaniards  kept  at  a  <listance  Jnnpi't. 
from  the  land,  beating  against  contrary  winds,  until  the  9th  of 
July,  when,  finding  themselves  in  the  laiitud(!  in  which  Juan 
(k  lAirn  was  said  to  have  discovered  a  strait  leading  eastward 
through  the  continent,  they  sailed  to  the  coast  in  order  to  ascer- 
tain the  truth  of  the  accojint.  Proceeding  in  that  direction,  they  July  11. 
soon  saw  the  land,  which,  from  its  situation  as  described,  must 
have  been  the  southwest  side  of  the  great  island  of  Vancouver 
and  Quadra,  at  the  entrance  of  tho  passage  now  called  Fuca's 
Strait.  They  were,  however,  unable  to  examine  this  part  of  the 
coast,  and  were  driven  southward,  to  within  eiglil;/  miles  of  the 
mouth  of  the  Columbia,  where  they  anchored,  between  the  con-  juiyis. 
tinent  and  a  small  island.  Here  they  met  with  a  severe  misfor- 
tune ;  several  of  the  crew  of  the  schooner,  who  had  been  sent  on 
shore  in  search  of  water,  were  surrounded  by  savages,  and  mur- 
dered immediately  on  landing ;  and  the  vessel  was  herself  ex-   July  14. 


♦  Bar  rin  el  oil's  Mincellanins,  which  contains  the  translation  of  Mam  «llc's  Journal, 
i.sa  rare  worlf;  and  the  notices  of  this  expediiion,  contained  in  the  various  memoirs, 
reports,  and  reviews,  concerning  the  northwest  coasts  of  America,  are  nearly  ali 
taken  d'n'ctly  or  at  second-hand  from  the  abstracts  of  the  Journal  by  Fieuricu,  in 
the  Introduction  to  the  Narrative  of  Marchand's  Voyaj^e  around  the  World,  and  in 
lilt  instructions  to  La  Perouse.  In  these  papers,  Fleurieu  has  displayed  much  geo- 
graphical knowledge,  yet  he  has  committed  numberless  errois;  and  his  contempt  for 
the  Spaniards  has  led  him,  whenever  an  opportunity  presented  itself,  or  could  be 
contrived,  to  dispara^je  their  proceeding's.  His  accounts  and  criticisms  with  regard 
to  the  expedition,  described  by  Maurellc,  are  filled  with  inaccuracies,  anJ  with  un- 
just or  illihernl  charges  against  the  Spaniards.  Of  his  mistakes,  the  least  iiupoitaot 
is  his  assignmeat  of  the  command  to  Ayala. 


Julylt 


till 


N 


f  >|,  I 


1 

:''  i 
J, 

'■  i 
i,  . 

1) 

; . 

■■'  ! 

}  '■ 

y 

m 

k 

72 


1775. 


posed  fo  danger  from  the  attacks  of  the  barbarians,  who  appeared 
in  great  numbers  in  canoes,  and  were  with  difficulty  prevented 
from  boarding  her.  In  commemoration  of  this  event,  the  island 
was  called  Ma  de  Dolores^  (Isle  of  Grief.)  Twelve  years  after- 
wards it  received  from  the  commander  of  the  Austrian  ship  Impe- 
rial Eagle  the  name  of  Destruction  Island,  in  consequence  of  the 
massacre  of  some  of  his  men  near  the  spot  where  the  Spaniards 
had  been  cut  off. 

July  15.  After  the  occurrence  of  this  disaster,  as  many  of  the  crews  of 
both  vessels  were  moreover  disabled  by  sickness,  it  was  debated 
among  the  officers  whether  they  should  endeavor  to  proceed  to 
the  north,  or  return  to  Monterey.  The  commander,  Heceta,  was 
anxious  to  return ;  Bodega  and  Maurelle,  however,  notwithstand- 
ing the  miserable  condition  of  their  little  schooner  and  crew,  in- 
sisted that  they  should  persevere  in  their  efforts  to  reach  a  higher 
latitude ;  and  their  opinion  having  been  unwillingly  adopted  by 
their  superior,  the  voyage  was  resumed  on  the  20th  of  July.    On 

Aug.  4.  the  4th  of  August  the  vessels  were  separated,  and  Heceta  seized 
the  opportunity  of  going  to  Monterey,  while  the  schooner  con- 
tinued her  course  towards  the  north. 

Aug.  14.  Ten  days  after  leaving  the  schooner,  Heceta,  while  sailing 
along  the  coast  of  the  continent  towards  the  south,  discovered  a 
promontory,  called  by  him  Cape  San  Roque,  and  immediately 
south  of  it,  under  the  parallel  of  46  degrees  16  minutes,  an  open- 
ing in  the  land,  which  appeared  to  be  a  harbor  or  the  mouth  of 
some  river.*  This  opening,  represented  in  Spanish  charts  printed 
before  1788  by  the  names  ofEntrada  de  Heceta,  Entrada  de  Asun- 
cion, and  Rio  de  San  Roque,f  was,  without  doubt,  the  mouth  of 
the  Columbia  river,  which  was  thus,  for  the  first  time,  seen  by 
the  natives  of  a  civilized  country. 

Bodega  and  Maurelle,  in  their  schooner,  after  parting  with  He- 
18.  ceta,  proceeded  towards  the  north  as  far  as  the  latitude  of  57  de- 
grees, before  they  again  saw  the  land.  Under  that  parallel  they 
discovered  a  lofly  mountain  in  the  form  of  a  beautiful  cone,  rising 
from  the  ocean,  and  occupying  nearly  the  whole  of  what  appeared 
to  be  a  peninsula,  projecting  westward  from  the  coast  of^  an  ex- 
tensive territory.  In  the  angles  between  the  supposed  peninsula 
and  the  main  land,  were  two  bays,  the  northernmost  of  which 
was  called  Port  Remedios,  and  that  on  the  southern  side  Poit 
Guadalupe,  in  honor  of  the  two  most  celebrated  places  of  pilgri- 
mage in  Mexico,  situated  near  the  capital.  The  mountain  over 
hanging  these  bays  received  the  name  of  San  Jacinto,  the  saint 
on  whose  day  it  was  discovered ;  and  the  appellation  of  Cape  En- 
earto  (Deception)  was  bestowed  on  its  western  extremity.  There 
IS  no  difficulty  in  identifying  these  spots,  from  the  descriptions 
given  by  Maurelle,  although  fhey  are  distinguished  on  our  Eng- 
lish maps  by  other  names ;  they  are  on  the  western  side  of  the 


Aug 


*  Journal  of  the  Sutil  and  Mezicana,  page  153;  and  IntroductioB  to  the  same, 
page  94. 

t  The  15th  of  August  is  the  day  of  the  Assumption ;  and  the  16th  ia  St.  Roque's  (or 
St.  Roch's)  day,  according  to  the  Roman  Catholic  Calendar. 


largest  islai 
ward  of  the 
the  land,  ai 
cinto  is  no 
Engano  as  ( 
and  Port  G 
sians  the  G 
other  by  a  i 
completely 

The  Spa 
they  took  p 
ligious  forn 
traded  with 
of  their  owr 
continued  t 
the  vessel  h 
were  incapa 
rendered  ad 
circumstanc 
persevere  ir 
turned  towa 
minutely  in 

Having  t 
they  went, 
through  wh 
Atlantic  in 
searched  e\ 
every  headl 
not  lose  sii 
safely  prou' 
conclusion 
tablished  b 
occasion,  th 
of  the  55th 
royage,  the 
Moreover,  li 
resents  thei 
towards  tin 
which  rnor 
by  the  Spar 

In  the  cf 
harbors,  atK 
covered  in 
the  Viceroy 
on  the  sout 
Islands,  ant 
America  w 
bestowed  I 
the  schoon 
great  islanc 
long  after  f 
tember  she 


vho  appeared 
Ity  prevented 
nt,  the  island 
B  years  after- 
in  ship  Impe- 
juence  of  the 
he  Spaniards 

the  crews  of 
;  was  debated 
to  proceed  to 
,  Heceta,  was 
lotwithstand- 
and  crew,  in- 
each  a  higher 
ly  adopted  by 
of  July.    On 
Heceta  seized 
ichooner  con- 
while  sailing 
,  discovered  a 
L  immediately 
iites,  an  open- 
the  mouth  of 
charts  printed 
\rada  cfe  Asun- 
the  mouth  of 
time,  seen  by 

ting  with  He- 
ude  of  57  de- 
parallel  they 
ul  cone,  rising 
what  ai 


oast  ot  an  ex 
)sed  peninsula 
nost  of  which 
lern  side  Port 
aces  of  pilgri- 
lountain  over 
into,  the  saint 
n  of  Cape  En- 
emity.  There 
e  descriptions 
d  on  our  Eng- 
iTii  side  of  the 


clioB  to  the  same, 
li  is  St.  Roque's  (or 


73 

largest  island  of  King  George  the  Third's  group,  a  little  north-  1775. 
ward  of  the  place  where  the  Russian  navigator,  Tschirikof,  saw 
the  land,  and  where  his  men  were  lost  in  1741.  Mount  San  Ja- 
cinto is  now  generally  known  as  Mount  Edffccumb,  and  Cape 
Engano  as  Cape  Edgecumb ;  Port  Remedies  is  the  Bay  of  Islands ; 
and  Port  Guadalupe  is  Norfolk  Sound,  called  also  by  the  Rus- 
sians the  Gidf  of  Sitca.  These  two  bays  communicate  with  each 
other  by  a  narrow  passage  behind  the  mountain,  which  is  thus 
completely  insulated. 

The  Spaniards  landed  on  the  shore  of  Port  Remedios,  where  Aug.  ly. 
they  took  possession  of  the  country  for  their  Sovereign  with  re- 
ligious formalities,  obtained  some  fresh  water,  and  fought  and 
traded  with  the  natives,  who  appeared  to  have  very  distinct  ideas 
of  their  own  rights  of  property  in  the  soil.  The  voyage  was  then 
continued  tOAvards  the  north,  as  far  as  the  58th  degree.  When 
the  vessel  had  reached  that  latitude,  nearly  the  whole  of  her  crew  Auj:.  22. 
were  incapable  of  duty,  while  the  increasing  violence  of  the  winds 
rendered  additional  exertions  absolutely  necessary.  Under  such 
circumstances,  the  officers  found  that  it  w(  mid  be  imprudent  to 
persevere  in  their  endeavors  to  advance,  and  they  accordingly 
turned  towards  the  south,  resolving,  however,  to  explore  the  coasts 
minutely  in  that  direction. 

Having  taken  this  course,  they  searched  along  the  shores  as 
they  went,  for  the  passage  or  strait  called  the  Rio  de  los  Reyes, 
through  which  Admiral  f  onte  was  said  to  have  sailed  into  the 
Atlantic  in  1640.  "  With  this  intent,"  writes  Maurelle,  "  we 
searched  every  bay  and  recess  of  the  coast,  and  sailed  around 
every  headland,  lying  to  during  the  night,  in  order  tliat  we  might 
not  lose  sight  of  this  entrance ;  after  which  exertions,  we  may 
safely  pronounce  that  no  such  strait  is  to  be  found."  This 
conclusion  was  certainly  coiTCct,  yet  it  was  as  certainly  not  es- 
tablished by  the  discoveries  of  the  Spaniards  in  1775.  On  that 
occasion,  the  search  was  confined  to  the  part  of  the  coast  north 
of  the  55th  parallel ;  whereas,  according  to  the  account  of  Fonte's 
voyage,  the  Rio  de  los  Reyes  entered  the  Pacific  under  the  53d. 
Moreover,  had  the  observations  been  as  minute  as  Maurelle  rep- 
resents them,  several  passages  would  have  been  found  leading 
towards  the  north  and  east,  for  the  examination  of  any  one  of 
which  more  time  would  have  been  required  than  was  devoted 
by  the  Spaniards  to  the  whole  search. 

In  the  course  of  this  examination,  a  bay,  affording  excellent 
harbors,  and  well  secured  against  the  ocean  by  islands,  was  dis- 
covered in  the  latitude  of  55^  degrees,  which,  in  compliment  o 
the  Viceroy  of  Mexico,  was  called  Port  Ducareli.  It  is  situated  Aug.  -24 
on  the  southwestern  side  of  the  largest  of  the  Prince  of  Wales's 
Islands,  and  is  one  of  the  few  places  on  the  northwest  coast  of 
America  which  still  retain  on  our  maps  the  names  originally 
bestowed  by  tlieir  Spanish  disf;ovcrers.  From  Port  Bucareli 
the  schooner  sailed  slowly  southward,  along  the  shores  of  the 
great  islands  which  border  the  American  continent,  and  were 
long  after  supposed  to  form  part  of  it ;  and  on  the  10th  of  Sep-  Sept  19. 
tember  she  readied  the  spot  where  her  men  had  been  murdered 


m 


I 


y 


ii'i 


I!    I 


!»( 


•1   - 


^Ml 


'  1 

■    \ 

,  :    ■ 

;      ' 

' 

■;  ' 

\ 

■.  . 

r 

'<': 

\ 

lii 

ki 

74 


\m 


Vi    < 


ii 

1  -' 

mn 

1 '  ^ 

ii 

lii 

mi 

i 

i 

,1' 

1T75.  two  months  before  by  the  savages.  Thence  Iier  voyage  was  con- 
Sept.  19.  tinned,  at  some  distance  from  the  land,  past  the  mouth  of  the 
Columbia;  a  little  south  of  which  she  again  approached  the  con- 
tinent, and  her  officers  endeavored  to  find  the  entrance  of  the 
great  river  said  to  have  been  seen  by  Martin  de  Aguilar,  the  pilot 
of  one  of  Vizcaino's  vessels,  in  1603.  The  examinations  with  this 
view  were  commenced  near  a  promontory,  "resembling  in  form  a 
round  table,"  which*  received  the  appellation  of  Cape  Mezari^ 
situated  about  thirty  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia;  and 
were  prosecuted  to  the  vicinity  of  Cape  Mendocino,  without  suc- 
cess. The  Spaniards  then  bore  away  for  the  bay  of  San  Fran- 
cisco; and,  while  looking  for  it,  they  entered  a  smaller  bay,  situ- 
ated farther  north,  to  which  Captain  Bodega  thought  proper  to 
give  his  own  name.  There  they  remained  long  enough  to  sur- 
vey the  shores;  after  which,  they  took  their  departure,  and  ar- 
Oct.  7.    rived  at  Monterey  on  the  7th  of  October. 

The  expeditions  of  the  Spaniards  in  the  north  Pacific,  during 
the  years  1774  and  1775,  have  been  made  the  subjects  of  severe 
reflections  and  sarcasms  by  French  and  English  writers ;  espe- 
cially by  Fleurieu,  in  his  Introduction  to  tlie  Account  of  Mar- 
chand's  Voynge  around  the  World,  and  his  Notes  to  the  Instruc- 
tions given  to  La  Perouse.  It  must  be  acknoAvledged  that  little 
exftct  information  respecting  the  northwestern  side  of  America 
was  derived  by  means  of  these  expeditions ;  yet  their  results 
might  liavc  been  important,  by  r^ffording  useful  hints  for  the  or- 
ganization and  conduct  of  future  voyages.  The  great  (luestions 
of  the  extension  of  the  continent  towards  the  north  and  west  were 
left  unsettled,  and  the  delineation  of  the  coasts,  founded  upon 
the  journals  and  tables  of  tlie  navigators,  was  imperfect  and 
inaccurate  ;  on  the  other  hand,  the  eastern  boundaries  of  the  Pa- 
cific were  approximately  ascertained,  as  fur  north  as  the  58th 
degree  of  latitude;  and  several  harbors  were  found,  the  posi- 
tions of  which  were  determined  with  tolerable  precision.  Perez 
and  Heceta,  indeed,  displayed  a  cautiousness  of  disposition  ap- 
proaching to  pusillanimity ;  but  Bodega  and  Maurelle  certainly 
vindicated  the  character  of  their  nation  for  courage  and  perseve- 
rance, by  their  struggles  to  advance  under  the  most  appalling  dif- 
ficulties. 

1T77.  In  order  to  complete  the  examination  of  tlie  northwest  coast  of 
America,  the  Viceroy,  Bucarcli,  obtained  from  his  Government 
the  use  of  two  small  corvettes,  which  he  was  anxious  to  despatch 
in  1777;  the  funds  required  for  their  equipment  were,  however, 
so  slowly  collected  that  they  were  not  ready  for  sea  until  two 

n7H.  years  afterwards.  In  the  mean  time,  that  coast  had  been  visited 
by  Captain  James  Cook,  whose  discoveries  now  claim  our  atten- 
tion. Before  proceeding  to  consider  them,  it  should  be  observed 
that  the  Spanisli  Government  carefully  concealed  from  tlie  world 
every  circumstance  relating  to  its  establishments  and  researches 


♦  This  promontory  is  miniiicly  dci^cribcrl  by  Captain  Clarke,  wlio  ascended  it  i'.i 
January,  180G.    Sec  Lewis  ami  Chuke's  Travels,  chapter  22. 


on  the  sho; 
Mr.  Barrin 
that  any  tl 
the  fact  thi 
that  part  o 
that  a  just 
Cook  and 
that  any  d; 
coasts  of  ^ 

Mention 
of  the  Bril 
the  Atlant 
rected  tow 
in  prosecu 
and  Bq/fiii 
sixteenth  ( 
was  soon 
comnmnic 
or  the  otli 
ranee  in  tl 
son's  Bay 
of  London 
the  unders 
ery.  As  a 
end, the  B 
thousand 
find  a  past 

Withou 
tions*  ma( 
ments,  sui 
respecting 
seas  west 
Bays.    H 
traders,  as 
however, 
been  navi 
imperfect! 
tween  one 
or  the  Pf 
found  wit 
cessible  tc 
Great  Bri 
questions 
any  dang( 
advantage 

In  orde 
as  well  as 
the  direct 


♦  A  inner 
their  re.suli.s 
Third  and  J 


.vlio  ascendod  il  iu 


75 

on  the  shores  of  the  north  Pacific ;  and  it  was  not  until  1 781 ,  when  1773. 
Mr.  Barrington  published  his  translation  of  Maurelle's  Journal, 
that  any  thing  was  known  in  Europe  upon  those  subjects,  except 
the  fact  that  a  voyage  had  been  made  about  1774  from  Mexico  to 
that  part  of  the  ocean.  This  should  be  borne  in  mind,  in  order 
that  a  just  estimate  may  be  formed  of  the  value  of  the  labors  of 
Cook  and  his  successors  in  command ;  none  of  whom  were  aware 
that  any  discoveries  had  been  made  by  the  Spaniards  on  the  west 
coasts  of  North  America,  since  those  of  Vizcaino  in  1603. 

Mention  has  been  frequently  made  in  this  memoir  of  the  efforts 
of  the  British  to  discover  a  northern  passage  for  ships  between 
the  Atlantic  and  the  Pacific  oceans.  These  efforts  were  all  di- 
rected towards  the  northwestern  extremities  of  the  Atlantic ;  and, 
in  prosecution  of  them,  the  two  great  seas  called  Hudson^s  Bay 
and  Bq/Hn^s  Bay  were  first  explored,  about  the  beginning  of  the 
sixteenth  century,  by  the  navigators  whose  names  they  bear.  It 
was  soon  afterwards  eiscertained,  satisfactorily,  that  the  desired 
communication  could  only  be  realized  through  the  medium  of  one 
or  the  other  of  these  bays;  and,  in  order  to  encourage  perseve- 
rance in  the  search  for  it,  the  whole  region  surrounding  Hud- 
son's Bay  was  granted  by  King  Charles  II.,  in  1()69,  to  a  society  iceo. 
of  Loudon  merchants,  entitled  the  Hudsoii's  Bay  Company,  with 
the  understanding  that  they  should  endeavor  to  effect  the  discov- 
ery. As  an  additional  means  of  promoting  the  attainment  of  this 
end,  the  British  Parliament,  in  1745,  offered  a  reward  of  twenty  1745. 
thousand  pounds  to  those  of  "/f's  Ma/cftty^s  svh/eris  vlio  might 
find  a  passage  for  skips  from  IJndson^s  Bay  to  the  Pacijic.^^ 

Without  presenting  a  detailed  account  of  the  various  expedi- 
tions* made  in  consequence  of  these  engagements  and  induce- 
ments, suffice  it  to  say  that,  in  1768,  nothing  had  been  learned  iTca 
respecting  the  portion  of  the  American  continent  and  the  adjacent 
seas  west  of  the  immediate  vicinities  of  Hudson's  and  Baftin's 
Bays.  Hudson's  Bay  had  been  explored  completely  by  the  fur- 
traders,  as  far  north  as  tlie  67th  degree  of  latitude,  beyond  which, 
however,  it  was  known  to  extend ;  and  although  Baffin's  Bay  had 
been  navigated  to  the  77th  parallel,  yet  its  shores  had  been  but 
imperfectly  examined.  A  channel  for  the  passage  of  ships,  be- 
tween one  of  these  bays  and  the  Pacific,  might  therefore  exist; 
or  the  Pacific,  or  some  large  river  emptying  into  it,  might  be 
found  within  a  short  distance  of  places  on  the  Atlantic  side,  ac- 
cessible to  vessels  from  Europe.  The  acquisition  of  Crinada  by 
Great  Britain,  in  1763,  had  rendered  the  determination  of  these 
questions  more  interesting  to  that  Power,  as  there  was  no  longer 
any  danger  that  such  discoveries  could  be  employed  to  its  dis- 
advantage. 

In  order  to  arrive  at  some  definite  conclusion  on  those  points,     nnj). 
as  well  as  for  other  purposes  connected  with  commercial  interests, 
the  directors  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  in  1769,  commis- 

♦  A  concise,  th(m;^!i  clour,  and  doubtless  jnsi  acconnt  of  iliese  expeditions,  ami  of 
their  rcsuii.s,  iiiav  lie  loiiiid  111  the  Iniiodiiciioii  lo  the  Journals  of  Capiain  Cook's 
Tliird  and  Lust  Voyage,  written  by  Doctor  Douglas,  Bishop  ol  Salihbuiy. 


:     i 


;ri!h 


'vi: 


1.1 


i 

i' 

ij 

■I   1 

i 

.  ! 

1 

L 

1769 

to 

1772. 


76 

1769,  sioned  Mr.  Samuel  Hearne,  one  of  their  agents,  to  explore  the  re- 
gion westward  and  northward  of  Hudson's  Bay,  so  as  to  ascer- 
tain, if  possible,  how  far  the  land  extended  without  interruption 
in  those  directions,  and,  consequently,  how  far  a  ship  would  ne- 
cessarily have  to  pass  in  a  voyage  between  the  Atlantic  and  the 
Pacific.  Agreeably  to  his  instructions,  Hearne  set  out*  from 
Fort  Pnnce  of  Wales^  situated  at  the  westernmost  extremity  of 
Nov.  6.  Hudson's  Bay,  in  the  latter  part  of  1769 ;  between  which  period 
and  July,  1772,  he  made  three  journeys  on  foot  and  in  canoes, 
through  the  designated  territories,  examining  them  in  various 
lines  of  march,  to  the  distance  of  nearly  a  thousand  miles  from 
the  place  of  his  departure.  In  these  expeditions,  he  discovered 
the  Great  Slave  Lake,  and  many  other  similar  collections  of  fresh 
water,  from  the  most  western  of  which  issued  streams  flowing  to- 
wards tne  north.  One  of  the  largest  of  these  streams,  called  Copper- 
mine River,  was  traced  by  him  for  a  considerable  distance,  down  to 
its  termination,  near  the  68th  degree  of  latitude,  in  a  sea,  which 
was  certainly  a  division  of  the  ocean,  for  the  tides  were  observed 
in  it,  and  the  relics  of  whales  in  abundance  were  strewed  on  its 
shore.  The  traveller,  moreover,  assured  himself  that  the  portion 
of  the  continent  which  he  had  thus  examined  was  not  traversed 
by  any  channel  or  uninterrupted  line  of  water  forming  a  commu- 
nication between  the  seas  on  its  eastern  and  its  western  sides ; 
and  that,  consequently,  no  passage  could  be  effected  from  the 
Atlantic  to  the  Pacific,  in  that  direction,  without  sailing  north  of 
the  mouth  of  the  Coppermine. 

The  discoveries  of  Hearne  were  considered  in  Great  Britain  as 
highly  important.  The  sea  into  which  the  Coppermine  river 
emptied  was  supposed  to  be  the  Pacific  ;t  and,  as  that  ocean  thus 
appeared  to  extend  much  farther  towards  the  northeast  than  had 
been  previously  imagined,  the  hope  of  finding  a  direct  communi- 
cation between  its  waters  and  those  of  Baffin's  Bay  were  propor- 
tionally increased. 

Before  relating  what  was  done  by  the  British  Government  in 
consequence  of  the  information  afforded  by  Hearne,  it  will  be 
proper  to  notice  another  journey  in  the  interior  of  North  America, 
performed  a  short  time  previous,  by  Captain  Jonathan  Carver,  of 
Connecticut.  This  gentleman  set  out  from  Boston  in  June,  1706; 
and,  proceeding  by  way  of  Michilimackinac,  passed  the  two  follow- 
October,  jng  years  in  exploring  the  region  west  of  the  Great  Lakes,  which 
1768.  is  watered  by  the  upper  Mississippi.  Beyond  this  region  he  did 
not  advance ;  and  the  only  reason  for  mentioning  his  expedition 
here  is,  that,  in  the  narrative  of  his  adventures,;J;  allusions  are  sev- 

•  The  (fLscoverics  made  bv  IJearne  were  communicated  to  tlie  directors  of  the 
Hudson's  Bay  Company,  and  by  them  to  the  British  AJmiraliy;  no  account  of  them 
was,  however,  sfiven  to  the  world  until  the  publicntion,  in  1784,  of  the  Journals  of 
Cook's  Last  Voyage,  in  the  Introduciion  to  which  ihey  are  noticed.  Ilearne's  Jour- 
nals and  Maps  were  finally  published  in  1795,  after  his  death. 

t  Hearne  esiimated  the  latitude  of  ihe  mouih  of  the  Coppermine  to  be  72  degrees. 
We  now  know,  from  the  observations  of  Franklin,  thai  this  river  enters  the  Arctic 
Sea  under  the  parallel  of  67  degrees  51  minutes. 

t  Published  at  London  in  \Ti>i  It  attracted  much  attention  at  that  time,  and  soon 
went  through  several  editions.    The  work  has  b«en  lately  reprinted  at  New  York, 


June, 
1766, 

10 


eral  times 
cific  from 

In  the 
objects  wc 
toms,  lang 
tions  that 
breadth  oj 
from  the  j 
tween  the 
to  accomf 
ment  to  es 
Anion,  wl 
course  be 
greatly  fuc 
nication  b 
tensive  pi 
liged  to  til 
River,  am 
way  of  the 
of  the  Gri 
tan,  the  te 
the  inforti 
stress  upo 
take  their 
centre  of  tl 
which  ejHj 
Lawrence 
West,  tha 

This 
waters  of 
though  lu 
cnncernin 
Mountain 
the  Pavif 
ered   as 
western 
ing  of  the 
tory  is,  in 
any  vocal 
in  search 
from  the 
of  the  Irif 
vented  tli 
not  from 
which  sii 
the  Missi: 
his  accou 
dians,  (nt 
given  by 


ai 


77 


rovemment  in 


eral  times  made  to  a  ^reat  river  flowing  wcstwardly  into  the  Pa- 
cific from  the  central  part  of  the  continent. 

In  the  Introduction  to  his  Narrative,  Carver  states  that  his 
objects  were,  "after  gaining  a  knowledge  of  the  manners,  cus- 
toms, languages,  soil,  and  natural  productions  of  the  different  na- 
tion's that  inhabit  the  back  of  the  Mississippi,  to  ascertain  the 
breadth  of  the  vast  continent  (North  America)  which  "extends 
from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific  ocean,  in  its  b.oadest  part,  be- 
tween the  43d  and  46th  degrees  northern  latitude.  Had  I  been  able 
to  accomplish  this,  I  intended  to  have  proposed  to  the  Govern- 
ment to  establish  a  post  in  some  of  those  parts  about  the  Strait  of 
Anion .f  which,  having  been  discovered  by  Sir  Francis  Drake,  of 
course  belong  to  the  English.  This,  I  am  convinced,  would 
greatly  facilitate  the  discovery  of  a  northwest  passage,  or  commu- 
nication between  Hudson's  Bay  and  the  Pacific  Ocean."  This  ex- 
tensive plan  he  was,  however,  unable  to  effect;  having  been  ob- 
liged to  turn  back  after  having  advanced  as  far  as  the  St.  Peter's 
River,  and  just  as  lie  was  preparing  to  pursue  his  journey  "6y 
way  of  the  Lakes  Du  Plmje,  Dubois,  and  Ouinipiqne,*  to  the  head 
of  the  Great  River  of  the  West,  which  falls  into  the  Strait  of  An- 
ton, the  terrnination  of  his  intended  prot'ress.^^  In  summing  up 
the  information  which  he  presents  to  the  public,  he  lays  great 
stress  upon  his  "account  of  the  heads  of  the  four  great  rivers  that 
take  their  rise  within  a  few  leagues  of  each  other,  nearly  about  the 
centre  of  the  great  continent,  viz : "  the  River  Bourbon,  (Red  River,) 
iHtich  einpties  itself  into  Hi{dson\s  Bay ;  the  waters  of  the  St. 
Lawrence ;  the  Mississippi ;  and  the  River  Oresron,  or  River  of  the 
West,  that  falls  into  the  Pocific  Ocean  at  the  Strait  of  Anion.*' 

This  account  is  certainly  incorrect,  so  far  as  regards  the  head 
waters  of  any  stream  flowing  into  the  Pacific ;  and  as  Carver, 
ihougli  he  frequently  mentions  the  Oregon,  gives  no  information 
concerning  it  more  particular  than  that  it  7-ises  among  the  Shining 
Mountains,  west  of  the  source  of  St.  Peter's  River,  and  falls  into 
the  Pocific  at  the  Strait  of  Anion,  he  cannot  in  justice  be  consid- 
ered as  having  thrown  any  light  upon  the  geography  of  the 
western  division  of  North  America.  As  to  the  derivation  or  mean- 
ing of  the  word  Oregon,  he  says  nothing ;  and  nothing  satisfac- 
tory is,  indeed,  known  about  it.  No  such  word  is  to  be  found  in 
any  vocabularies  of  Indian  languages  which  have  been  examined 
in  search  of  it;  and  there  is  little  probability  that  it  comes  either 
from  the  0/Y;^r/wo  or  the  Ore/o/t  of  the  Spaniards,  or  the  O' Regan 
of  the  Irish.  In  fact,  there  is  reason  to  suspect  that  Carver  in- 
vented the  name  himself,  and  that  he  derived  his  idea  of  the  river 
not  from  the  Indians,  but  from  the  maps  of  the  day,  in  most  of 
which  such  a  stream  is  laid  down  running  from  the  vicinity  of 
the  Mississippi.  It  is  certain  that  he  copied  the  greater  part  of 
his  accounts  of  tlie  manners  and  customs  of  the  Nadowessie  In- 
dians, (now  called  the  Siou.r,)  as  well  as  their  terms,  from  those 
given  by  Lahontan,  nearly  a  century  previous,  respecting  the  sav- 


17C6 

to 
1768. 


m 


.1  'Xii 


;:    I 


♦  Rainy  Lake,  Luke  of  the  Woods,  and  Lake  IVinnipeg. 


i/' 


ii 


78 


17GG 

to 

17CS. 


17T1. 


i7:(). 

July  1-2. 


ages  of  Canada ;  as  may  bo  seen  by  comparing  the  chapters  on 
numiage,  on  burial,  on  hunting,  and  on  many  other  subjects  in 
the  two  works,  although  he  merely  mentions  the  French  travel- 
ler once  or  twice  incidentally,  and  then  in  a  very  disparaging 
manner.* 

Carver  concludes  his  narrative  by  stating  that  a  project  had 
been  formed  in  England,  in  1774,  by  Richard  VVhitworth  and 
other  persons,  of  whom  lie  himself  was  one,  to  cross  the  Ameri- 
can continent  with  a  large  party,  by  way  of  the  Oregon  and  Mis- 
souri Rivers  to  the  Pacific,  and  then  to  examine  the  coasts  of 
that  ocean  towards  the  north,  in  search  of  some  passage  leading 
to  the  Atlantic  ;  but  that  the  Revolution  in  America  had  caused 
the  scheme  to  be  abandoned. 

The  British  Government,  however,  soon  afterwards  endeavored 
to  obtain  a  solution  of  the  interesting  question  as  to  the  existence 
of  a  northern  passage  between  the  two  oceans;  for  which  purpose 
it  was  arranged  that  ships  should  be  sinmltancously  despatched 
to  the  north  Pacific  and  to  Balfin's  Bay.  Captain  Cook,  who 
about  this  time  returned  from  his  second  circunmavigation  of  the 
earth,  volunteered  to  conduct  the  expedition  to  the  north  Pacific; 
his  offer  was  joyfully  accepted,  and  he  accordingly  sailed  from 
Plymouth  on  the  12th  of  July,  177(i,  in  his  old  ship  the  Resolu- 
tion, accompanied  by  the  Discovery,  under  the  connnand  of  Cap- 
tain Charles  Clerke. 

Captain  Cook  was  instructed  to  proceed  by  way  of  the  Cape  of 
(Jood  Hope  and  Otaheite,  "  to  the  coast  o(  Aciv  A/hioti,  endeavor- 
ing to  fall  in  with  it  in  the  latitude  of  45  degrees."  He  was  there 
"  to  put  into  the  first  convenient  port  to  recruit  his  wood  and 
water  and  procure  refreshments,  and  then  to  sail  northward  along 
the  coast  to  the  latitude  of  G5  degrees,  or  farther  if  not  obstructed 
by  lands  or  ice,  taking  care  not  to  lose  any  time  in  exploring  riv- 
ers or  inlets,  or  upon  any  other  account,"  until  he  had  reached  that 
parallel.  At  the  6.5th  degree  he  was  to  begin  his  examination  of 
the  coast,  in  search  of  "  a  water  passage  pointing  towards  Hud- 
son's or  Balfin's  Bays ;"  if  he  should  find  such  a  passage,  he  was 
to  endeavor  to  make  his  way  through  it;  should  he,  however,  be- 
come convinced  that  no  such  comnmnication  existed,  he  was  to 
visit  the  Russian  establishments  in  that  quarter,  and  to  explore 
the  seas  north  of  them  as  far  and  as  completely  as  he  could.  The 
direction  not  to  commence  the  search  for  a  passage  to  tiie  Atlan- 
tic south  of  the  doth  pandlel,  was  founded  on  the  proofs  alforded 
by  Hearne  that  the  American  continent  extended  uninterrupted 
beyond  that  latitude,  and  that,  consequently,  the  stories  of  the 
voyages  of  Fuca  and  Fonte  from  the  Pacific  to  the  Atlantic  were 
entitled  to  no  credit. 

The  application  of  the  name  of  New  Albion  to  the  western  por- 
tion of  North  America  showed  that  the  British  Government  had 


♦In  the  interesting  Account  of  Major  Loiif^'s  Expedition  tlironsrh  the  (.onntry 
f>f  the  upper  Mississippi  in  18'23,  vol.  i,  chapter  7,  will  In*  I'otind  sdine  (il)>L'rvatiiiii.s 
calculated  to  show  that  no  dependence  is  to  be  placed  on  Carver's  statemcnis  respect- 
ing that  pirt  ol' America,  particularly  as  regards  the  St.  Peter's  River,  which  it  is 
probable  that  he  never  ascended. 


chapters  on 
subjects  in 
eiich  travel- 
disparaging 

project  had 
itworth  and 

the  Ameri- 
on  and  Mis- 
le  coasts  of 
sage  leading 

had  caused 

1  endeavored 
le  existence 
lich  purpose 
7  despatched 
I  Cook,  who 
2;ation  of  the 
orth  Pacific ; 
sailed  from 
1  the  Resolu- 
land  of  Cap- 

fthe  Cape  of 
I//,  cndeavor- 
le  was  there 
is  wood  and 
hward  along 
jt  obstructed 
xploring  riv- 
reached  that 
aniinution  of 
jwards  Hud- 
isago,  he  was 
however,  be- 
)d,  he  was  to 
id  to  explore 
could.  The 
to  the  Atlan- 
oofs  alforded 
minterrupted 
lories  of  the 
^.tlantio  were 


western  por- 
erinnent  had 


Li?;h  the  conntry 
line  i)l)sLTvaiii)ii.s 
ilemenis  respeet- 
iver,  which  il  Ls 


79 

no  intention  to  resign  the  rights  supposed  or  pretended  to  have  177C. 
been  acquired  by  Drake's  visit  to  that  region.  In  order  to  revive 
and  fortify  these  claims,  Cook  was  instructed,  "with  the  consent 
of  the  natives,  to  take  possession,  in  the  name  of  the  King  of  Grant 
Britain,  of  convenient  situations  in  such  countries  as  he  might 
discover,  that  had  not  been  already  discovered  or  visited  by  any 
other  European  Power,  and  to  distribute  among  the  inhabitants 
such  things  as  will  remain  as  traces  of  his  having  been  there  ; 
but  if  he  should  find  those  countries  uninhabited,  he  was  to  take 
possession  of  them  for  his  Sovereign,  by  setting  up  proper  marks 
and  inscriptions  as  first  discoverers  and  possessors."  He  was 
"strictly  enjoined  not  to  touch  upon  any  part  of  the  Spanish 
dominions  on  the  western  continent  of  America,  unless  driven 
thither  by  some  unavoidable  accident;  in  which  case,  he  was  to 
stay  no  longer  than  should  be  absolutely  necessary ,  and  to  be  care- 
ful to  give  no  umbrage  or  offence  to  any  of  the  inhabitants  or 
subjects  of  his  Catholic  Majesty."  With  reference  to  the  Rus- 
sians he  was  directed,  "  if  in  his  farther  progress  northward  he 
should  find  any  subjects  of  any  European  Prince  or  State  upon 
any  part  of  tlie  coast,  not  to  disturb  them  or  give  them  any  just 
cause  of  offence,  but,  on  the  contrary,  to  treat  them  with  civility 
and  friendship." 

The  preceding  extracts  from  the  instructions  given  to  Cook  in 
1776  will  be  sulficient  to  explain  the  objects  of  his  voyage  to  the 
north  Pacific,  and  the  views  of  the  British  Government  with  re- 
gard to  the  part  of  America  bordering  upon  that  division  of  the 
ocean.  It  should  bo  observed,  in  addition,  that  those  views  were 
in  every  respect  conformable  with  justice,  with  the  existing  trea- 
ties between  Great  Britain  and  other  Powers,  and  with  the  princi- 
ples of  national  law,  then  generally  admitted  in  civilized  coun- 
tries. 

When  Cook  sailed  fron»  England  on  this  his  last  voyage,  he  July  1-2 
expected  to  reach  the  north  Pacific  early  in  the  summer  of  1777; 
lie  was,  however,  detained  by  his  researches  in  other  parts  of  the 
ocean  during  the  whole  of  that  year,  and  did  not  arrive  upon  the 
northwest  coast  of  America  until  the  7t!i  of  March,  1778,  when 
he  made  the  land  about  a  hundred  miles  north  of  Cape  Mendo- 
cino. For  several  days  afterwards  he  was  prevented  by  violent 
storms  from  advancing  as  he  wished  towards  the  north,  and 
was  driven  along  the  coast  to  some  distance  in  the  contrary  di- 
rection. The  wind  then  becoming  favorable,  he  took  the  desired 
course,  and  on  tlie  2;id  of  the  month  his  ships  were  opposite  a 
projecting  point  of  tlie  continent,  situated  a  little  beyond  the  4Sth 
parallel,  to  which  he  gave  the  name  of  Cope  Flattery  in  token  of 
his  improved  prospects.  In  this  part  of  his  voyage  he  recognised 
the  Cape  Blanco  of  Aguilar,  near  the  43d  parallel,  but  he  thought 
proper  to  bestow  on  it  the  name  of  Cape  Grcgorij.  The  mouth  of 
the  Columbia  was  passed  by  him,  without  its  being  noticed,  du- 
ring a  stormy  night. 

The  coast  innuediately  south  of  Cape  Flattery  was  carefully 
examined  in  search  of  the  strait  through  which  Jiinn  de  Fuca 
was  said  to  have  sailed  from  the  Pacific  to  the  Atlantic  in  1592. 
In  the  account  of  that  voyage,  the  entrance  of  the  strait  is  placed 


177H. 
Mar.  7. 


Mar.  i:?. 
Mar.  -Zi. 


I, 


m 


III  ,1 


^ 


80 


1778.  between  the  47th  and  49th  degrees  of  latitude;  and  the  land  be- 
ing found  by  Cook  to  extend  uninterruptedly  across  that  space, 
he  did  not  hesitate  to  pronounce  that  no  such  passage  existed. 
This  assertion  has  been  subsequently  confirmetl;  had  the  Eng- 
lish navigator,  however,  traced  the  outline  of  the  coast  on  the 
other  side  of  Cape  Flattery,  he  would  there  have  discovered  an 
arm  of  the  ocean,  apparently  penetrating  the  continent  towards 
the  east,  through  winch  he  might  have  proceeded  with  his  ships 
for  many  days  ere  he  could  have  been  assured  that  the  story  of  the 
Greek  pilot's  voyage  was  not  true  in  all  its  most  essential  partic- 
ulars. 

This  arm  of  the  sea  was  passed  unnoticed  by  Cook,  who  con- 
tinued his  voyage  from  Cape  Flattery,  northward  across  its  en- 
trance, and  along  the  shore  of  what  he  supposed  to  be  the  con- 
tinent, as  far  as  the  latitude  of  49^  degrees.  Under  that  parallel 
he  found  a  spacious  and  secure  bay  offering  every  facility  for  the 
repair  of  his  vessels  and  the  refreshment  of  his  men,  in  which  he 
Mar.  29.  cast  anchor  on  the  29th  of  March,  bestowing  upon  it,  at  the  same 
time,  the  novae  oi  King  Georgv^s  Sound.  This  name  he  shortly 
after  changed  to  that  of  Nootica  Sounf/,  under  the  impression 
(which  appears  to  have  been  incorrect)  that  Nootica*  was  the  term 
employed  to  distinguish  the  bay,  by  the  natives  of  the  surround- 
ing territory. 
April.  The  English  remained  at  Nootka  Sound  four  weeks,  engaged 
in  preparations  for  the  difficulties  which  they  expected  to  encoun- 
ter. During  this  period  they  communicated  freely  with  the  na- 
tives of  the  country,  who,  though  universally  represented  as  the 
most  thievish,  treacherous,  and  ferocious  of  the  human  race,  were 
upon  this  occasion  rendered  useful,  and  even  obliging,  by  the 
knid  and  conciliatory  conduct  of  the  strangers.  A  regular  inter- 
change of  commodities  was  also  established  between  the  parties, 
the  seamen  giving  their  old  clothes,  buttons,  knives,  and  other 
trifles,  in  return  for  the  skins  of  sea-otters  and  seals,  which  were 
found  in  abundance  on  those  coasts. 

Cook  has  recorded  in  his  Journal  many  curious  particulars  il- 
lustrative of  the  character  and  habits  of  these  savages,  and  he 
has  also  noticed  some  circumstances  which  appeared  to  show 
that  they  had  held  intercourse  with  Europeans  before  his  arrival 
among  them.  Thus  he  remarks  that  they  manifested  no  surprise 
at  the  sight  of  his  ships,  and  were  not  startled  by  the  reports  of 
his  guns  ;  they  had  tools  and  weapons  of  iron,  and  ornaments  of 
brass,  which  latter,  at  least,  could  not  have  been  made  by  per- 
sons unacquainted  with  the  arts ;  and  one  of  their  chiefs  had 
hanging  around  his  neck  two  silver  tablespoons  of  Spanish  man- 
ufacture. Yet  the  navigator  was  convinced,  from  in([uiries,  that 
no  ships  besides  those  under  his  command  had  been  seen  at 
Nootka,  and  that  none  of  the  inhabitants  had  ever  communicated 
directly  with  the  Spaniards  or  any  other  civilized  people.  Their 
indifference  with  regard  to  his  ships  ho  attributed  to  their  "  natu- 


f 


♦  The  name  of  Uquot,oT  Yucuatl,  applied  by  ihe  natives  oflhis  region  to  a  part  oj 
the  sound  called  Friendly  Cove,  is  the  only  woid  in  their  language  which  re&cnibles 
Nootka. 


ral  indoler 
that  they  c 
colonies  in 
termediate 

Under  1 
justified  ii 
Sound,  ani 
The  Span 
place  is  n 
named  by 
years  prev 
In  the  ace 
what  evid( 
that  many 
firm  the  pi 
the  questic 
be  at  the  i 

Cook  sa 
intention  < 
of  latitude 
ican  coast 
next  seen 
Edgccumi 
in  1775  th 
he  beheld 
and  snow, 
Fainccath 
the  60th  p 
scribed  in 
of  Mount 
instead  of 
sen  ted  in 
solved  to 
should  soi 
his  ships 
continent 

With  tl 
from  Mou 
thence  sd 
exploring 
Ham's  So'i 
which  th 
pectations 
land  was 
line  thus 
and  accoL 
ocean.  'J 
Cook  enti 
establishe 
of  his  be 
was  mate 

While 
ited  by  til 


he  land  be- 
that  space, 
ge  existed, 
d  the  Eng- 
)ast  on  the 
covered  an 
fnt  towards 
[h  his  ships 
story  of  the 
iitial  partic- 

c,  who  con- 
ross  its  en- 
3e  the  con- 
that  parallel 
ility  for  the 
n  which  he 
at  the  same 
5  he  shortly 
impression 
ras  the  term 
e  surround- 

is,  engaged 
to  encoun- 
vith  the  na- 
intcd  as  the 
II  race,  were 
;ing,  by  the 
igular  inter- 
the  parties, 
5,  and  other 
which  were 

irticulars  il- 
jes,  and  ho 
ed  to  show 
2  his  arrival 
.  no  surprise 
le  reports  of 
rnaincnts  of 
ladc  by  per- 
'  chiefs  had 
xmish  man- 
juiries,  that 
con  seen  at 
nmunicatcd 
pie.  Their 
their  "  natu- 


irion  to  a  part  ol 
hicli  re&cmbles 


81 

ral  indolence  of  temper  and  want  of  curiosity ;"  and  he  concluded     177* 
that  they  obtained  their  iron  and  other  metuls  from  the  European 
colonies  in  \merica,  through  the  agency, "perhaps, of  severaJ  in- 
termediate nations." 

Under  these  circumstances,  Cook  finally  considered  himself 
justified  in  claiming  the  merit  of  the  first  discovery  of  Nootka 
Sound,  and  it  has  since  been  almost  universally  conceded  to  him. 
The  Spanish  Government  and  writers,  however,  insist  that  this 
place  is  no  other  than  the  l*ort  San  Lorenzo^  entered  an«l  so 
named  by  Juan  Perez,  during  his  voyage  along  this  coast,  four 
years  previous  to  the  arrival  of  the  English  in  the  north  Pacific. 
In  the  account  of  that  voyage,  at  page  70,  we  have  shown  upon 
what  evidence  this  assertion  is  fl)unded ;  and  it  cannot  be  denied 
that  many  of  the  facts  observed  by  Cook,  at  Nootka,  tend  to  con- 
firm the  probability  of  its  correctness.  To  attempt  to  determine 
the  question  satisfactorily  in  favor  of  the  Spanish  navigator,  would 
be  at  the  present  day  an  unprofitable  employment. 

Cook  sailed  from  Nootka  Sound  on  the  2Gth  of  April,  with  the  April  26 
intention  of  proceeding  as  speedily  as  possible  to  the  65th  degree 
of  latitude,  where  he  was  to  begin  the  examination  of  the  Amer- 
ican coasts,  in  search  of  a  passage  to  the  Atlantic.  The  land 
next  seen  by  him  was  the  beautiful  peak  which  he  called  Mount  MayJ 
Eilgecumby  but  which  had  received  from  Bodega  and  Maurelle 
in  1775  the  name  of  Mount  Son  Jacinto ;  and  two  days  afterwards  Mny  i. 
he  beheld  rising  from  the  shore  two  stupendous  piles  of  rocks 
and  snow,  on  the  southernmost  of  which  the  appellation  of  Mount 
Fainccathcr  was  bestowed,  while  the  other,  lying  nearly  under 
the  60th  parallel,  was  recognised  as  the  Mount  Saint  Elias  de- 
scribed in  the  accounts  of  Beering's  last  voyage.  From  the  foot 
of  Mount  Saint  Elias  the  coast  was  observed  to  turn  to  the  west, 
instead  of  continuing  in  a  northward  direction,  as  it  was  repre- 
sented in  the  latest  charts  of  the  Russians.  Cook  thereupon  re- 
solved to  commence  his  survey  at  that  point,  hoping  that  he 
should  soon  find  some  strait  or  arm  of  the  ocean,  through  which 
his  ships  might  pass  around  the  northwestern  extremity  of  the 
continent  into  the  sea  discovered  by  Hearne. 

With  this  view  the  English  advanced  slowly  along  the  shore 
from  Mount  Saint  Ehas  to  a  considerable  distance  westward,  and 
thence  southward  as  far  as  the  55th  degree  of  latitude;  minutely  June. 
exploring  in  their  way  the  two  great  gulfs  called  Prince  Wil- 
liain's  Sound  and  Cook's  Riticr,  and  every  other  opening  through 
which  they  supposed  it  possible  to  effect  a  passage.  Their  ex- 
pectations, however,  were  in  each  instance  disappointed ;  and  the 
land  was  found  extending  continuously  on  the  right  of  the  whole 
line  thus  surveyed  by  them,  over  a  vast  space,  which  in  the  charts 
and  accounts  of  the  Russians,  was  represented  as  occupied  by  the 
ocean.  That  this  land  was  a  part  of  the  American  continent 
Cook  entertained  no  doubt,  although  the  fact  had  not  then  been 
established ;  and  he  therefore  saw  with  regret  that  the  probability 
of  his  being  able  to  accomplish  the  grand  object  of  his  voyage 
was  materially  lessened,  if  not  entirely  destroyed. 

While  this  survey  was  going  on,  the  ships  were  firequently  vis- 
ited by  the  natives  of  the  adjacent  territories,  none  of  whom  ap- 


',H 


!  .  II 


)■    >'. 


<;'! 


^« 


''!/ 


Ml 


:   I 


■■!  1 


i'i, 


till 


n 


llh'i 


'H 


Jmif  I'J. 


June  07. 


Jiilv 


Auk.  y. 


An;;.  10. 


Oci. 


Oct.  20. 

Nov.  2G, 


177!). 
Feb.  IG. 


82 

ppnrod  to  have  held  any  previous  intercourse  with  civilized  per- 
sons; and  it  was  not  nntil  tlic-y  had  passed  the  southwostern 
extioMiity  of  the  land,  near  the  />i>th  parallel  of  latitude,  that 
traces  of  the  Kussians  were  perceived.  From  this  point  they 
proceeded  towards  the  west,  and  at  length,  on  the  27tn  of  June, 
they  reached  an  island  which  proved  to  he  (inalanhL-a  one  of  the 
largt'st  of  the  Fox  group,  well  known  as  a  place  of  resort  for  the 
fur-traders  from  Asia.  None  but  savages  were  found  upon  it  at 
that  time ;  yet,  as  its  position  with  reference  to  the  other  islands 
and  to  Kamschatka  was  supposed  to  be  expressed  Avith  some  ap- 
proach to  accuracy  on  the  charts  published  at  St.  Petersburg,  Us 
discovery  was  considered  iniiiortant  for  the  regulation  of  future 
movements. 

From  Unalashka  Cook  proceeded  northward  through  the  part 
of  the  Pacific  usually  distinguished  as  the  Sen  nf  Knmsr/iutkfr,  into 
the  Arctic  Ocean,  examining  the  American  coast  in  search  of  a 
passage  around  the  continent  towards  the  east.  On  the  9th  of 
August,  he  reached  a  point  situated  near  the  G6th  parallel  of  lati- 
tude., and  called  by  him  Cape  Prince  of  Wales,  which  has  been 
ascertained  to  be  the  western  extremity  of  America;  and  thence, 
crossing  a  channel  of  oidy  fifty-one  miles  in  breadth,  he  arrived  at 
the  opposite  extremity  of  Asia,  since  known  as  East  Cape.  Upon 
the  channel  which  there  separates  the  two  great  continents  he 
generously  bestowed  the  name  of  Jieeri}i>i\s  Strait,  in  honor  of 
the  navigator  who  had  first,  though  unknowingly,  passed  through 
it  fifty  years  before. 

Beyond  Beering's  Strait  the  American  coast  was  found  extend- 
ing upon  the  Arrtic  Sen  towards  the  east,  and  was  traced  in  that 
direction  to  Ici/  Cape,  a  point  situated  in  the  latitude  of  70.^  de- 
grees, where  the  progress  of  the  ships  was  arrested  by  the  ice. 
In  like  manner  the  Asiatic  shore  was  examined  as  far  westward 
as  it  was  possible  to  proceed  ;  and  the  warm  season  having  by 
this  time  passed  away,  Cook  judged  it  prudent  to  return  to  the 
south,  deferring  the  prosecution  of  his  researches  until  the  ensu- 
ing summer. 

On  the  2d  of  October  the  ships  again  arrived  at  Unalashka, 
where  fortunately  some  Russian  traders  were  found.  The  chief 
of  these  men,  Gerassim  IsmylofF,  was  an  old  and  experienced 
seaman,  who  had  accompanied  Benyowsky  in  his  adventurous 
voyage  to  China  in  1771,  and  had  been  for  many  years  engaged 
in  the  trade  between  Kamschatka  and  the  islands.  He  readily 
exhibited  to  Cook  all  the  charts  in  his  possession,  and  commu- 
nicated what  he  knew  respecting  the  geography  of  that  part  of 
the  world.  The  information  thus  received  from  him,  however, 
was  only  so  far  valuable  to  the  English  navigator,  as  it  proved 
the  inaccuracy  of  the  ideas  of  the  Russians  with  regard  to  the 
American  continent. 

Leaving  Unalashka  after  some  days,  the  English  ships  contin- 
ued on  their  course  towards  the  south,  and  on  the  26th  of  No- 
vember reached  Owyhee,  one  of  the  Sandwich  Islands.  There 
they  remained  during  the  winter,  and  there,  on  the  16th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1779,  the  gallant  and  generous  Cook  was  murdered  by  the 
natives.  .    .1  ,      . 


Captain 
peditioti  d 
(leavored 
Ian  tic  thr 
Owyhee  1 
in  the  Ba; 
yond  whi 
vancing  a 
year.  His 
before  the 
died  near 

Captain 
the  directi 
the  officer 
counter  tl 
ocean,  it 
homewari 
owsk,  wh 
by  the  Ri; 
chored  at 
of  CJanton 

With  tl 
stances  wl 
in  the  exj 

During 
the  officer 
places  wli 
change  fr 
collected 
and  were 
which  th( 
the  remai 
Paulowsk 
tlie  Russi 
the  same 
quired  in 
vailed  up 
hand,  un 
a  better  ir 

In  this 
ried  by  tl 
by  sea,  s 
brought 
thus  recc 
therefore, 
highly  pr 
Tygris,tl 
persons  i 
The  Chii 


•  Called  £ 
Russians  w 


83 


ivilizod  per- 
Mithwostcrri 
ititiido,  that 
point  they 
rtn  of  June, 
//  one  of  the 
csort  for  the 
id  upon  it  at 
)ther  islands 
ith  some  aj)- 
tersburg,  its 
on  of  future 

igJi  the  part 
nr/iat/cn, into 

search  of  a 
n  the  0th  of 
rallel  of  lati- 

h  has  been 

and  thence, 
he  arrived  at 
Cape.  Upon 
intinents  he 

in  honor  of 
ssed  through 

innd  extend- 
raced  in  that 
le  of  TO'  de- 
li by  the  ice. 
far  westward 
n  having  by 
return  to  the 
itil  the  ensu- 

t  Unalashka, 

.    The  chief 

experienced 

adventurous 

ears  engaged 

He  readily 

and  commu- 

f  that  part  of 

im,  however, 

,  as  it  proved 

regard  to  the 

ships  contin- 
!  26th  of  No- 
mds.  There 
lethofFeb- 
rdered  by  the 


Captain  Charles  Clerko,  upon  whom  the  cnmninnd  of  the  px- 
poilition  devolved  in  rons('(|uen('e  of  this  nu'luncholy  event,  en- 
deavored in  the  lollowing  .sunnuer  to  effect  a  passngt*  to  the  At- 
lantic through  the  Arctic  Sea.  With  this  view  \w.  stiilrd  from 
Owyhee  to  Vitro- /'au/oirs/>;*  the  principal  port  of  Kniiischntka, 
in  the  Hay  of  Avatscha,  and  thence  through  Heoring's  Strait;  !)(•- 
yond  which,  however,  his  ships  were  prevented  by  ico  from  ad- 
vancing as  far  in  any  direction  as  tliey  had  gone  in  the  previous 
yciir.  His  health  declining,  he  was  obliged  to  reUtrn  to  the  south 
before  the  end  of  the  warm  season,  and  on  the  2'M  of  Augtist  he 
died  near  Potro- Paulo wsk. 

Captain  John  Gore,  a  wative  of  New  Kngland,  next  assumed 
the  direction  of  the  enterprise;  and  the  ships  being  considered  by 
the  officers  unfit,  from  the  bad  condition  of  their  rigging,  to  en- 
counter the  storms  of  another  year's  voyage  in  tliis  part  of  the 
ocean,  it  was  determined  that  they  should  direct  their  course 
homeward.  Accordingly,  in  October  they  sailed  from  Petro-Paul- 
owsk,  where  they  had  been  treated  with  the  uUnost  hospitality 
by  the  Russian  authorities ;  and  in  December  following  they  an- 
chored at  the  mouth  of  the  River  Tygris  in  China,  near  the  city 
of  Canton. 

With  the  stay  of  the  ships  at  Canton  are  connected  circum- 
stances which  gave  additional  imiiortance  to  the  discoveries  made 
in  the  expedition. 

During  their  voyage  along  the  northwest  coasts  of  America, 
the  officers  and  seamen  had  obtained  from  the  natives  of  various 
places  which  they  visited  a  quantity  of  the  finest  furs,  in  ex- 
change for  knives,  buttons,  and  other  trifles.  These  furs  were 
collected  without  any  reference  to  their  vahie  as  merchandise, 
and  were  used  on  board  as  clothes  or  bedding ;  in  consequence  of 
which  the  greater  portion  of  them  had  been  entirely  spoiled,  and 
the  remainder  Avere  much  injured  before  the  ships  reached  Petro- 
Paulowsk.  At  that  place  a  few  of  the  skins  were  purchased  by 
the  Russian  traders,  who  were  anxious  to  obtain  the  whole  on 
the  same  terms ;  but  the  oliicers,  having  in  the  mean  time  ac- 
quired information  respecting  the  value  of  furs  in  China,  pre- 
vailed upon  the  seamen  to  retain  those  Avhich  they  had  still  on 
hand,  until  their  arrival  at  Canton,  where  they  were  assured  that 
a  better  market  would  be  found. 

In  this  expectation  they  were  not  disappointed.  The  furs  car- 
ried by  them  to  China  were  the  first  which  entered  that  empire 
by  sea,  all  those  previously  used  in  the  country  having  been 
brought  by  land  though  the  northern  frontiers.  The  supplies 
thus  received  had  never  been  equal  to  the  demands ;  no  sooner, 
therefore,  was  it  reported  in  Canton  that  two  cargoes  of  these 
highly  prized  objects  of  comfort  and  luxury  had  arrived  in  the 
Tygris,  than  the  ships  which  contamed  them  were  surrounded  by 
persons  all  eager  to  buy  for  their  own  use  or  upon  speculation. 
The  Chinese,  according  to  custom,  began  by  proposing  prices  far 


M;ir.  i:t. 
May  I. 


Oct. 
Dec.  IH. 


in 


;■(■•■ 


*:   t 


♦  Called  also  P.tru-Paulski,  ami  the  Harbor  of  Saint  Peter  ami  Saint  Paul.  The 
Russians  write  it  Petropawlowskaia, 


S4 


.')"i 


■   ;■ 


•'ilffi 


1779.  below  tlioHO  which  wore  then  current ;  but  the  EngUsh  refusing 
to  accede  to  sucli  terms,  they  gruduuUy  increuMod  the  amount  uf 
their  olTerN,  and  in  the  end  the  whole  Htock  of  furs  was  purchased 
by  tliem  for  money  and  goods,  the  value  of  which  was  not  less 
than  ton  thousand  dollars. 

The  business  fur  which  the  English  stopped  ut  Canton  having 
been  despatched,  thev  sailed  from  that  place  in  January,  17bO, 
and,  passing  around  the  Cape  of  Good  Ho|)e,  arrived  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Thames  on  the  4th  of  October  following. 

The  results  of  Cook's  researches  in  the  north  Pacific  were  cer- 
tainly fur  more  important  than  those  obtained  by  any  or  all  of  the 
navigators  who  hud  previously  explored  that  part  of  the  sea.  The 
positions  of  a  number  of  points  on  the  western  side  of  America 
were  for  the  first  time  ac(;uratc]y  detcrmuied,  and  means  were 
thus  afforded  for  ascertaining  approximately  the  extent  of  the 
continent  in  that  direction.  The  existence  of  a  northern  channel 
of  communication  between  the  two  oceans,  passable  by  ships, 
seemed  to  be  entirely  disproved ;  but,  in  recompense,  a  vast  field 
for  the  exercise  of  industry  was  opened  to  the  world,  by  the  de- 
monstration of  the  advantages  which  were  to  bo  derived  from  the 
collection  of  furs  on  the  northern  shores  of  the  Pacific,  and  the 
sale  of  them  in  China. 

With  regard  to  the  novelty  of  Cook's  discoveries  on  the  north- 
west side  of  America,  it  appears,  on  comparing  his  course  with 
those  taken  by  the  Spaniards  four  years^ previously,  that  until  he 
had  passed  the  58th  parallel  of  latitude  he  saw  no  land,  (with  the 
exception  possibly,  though  not  probably,  of  Nootka  Sound,)  which 
hud  not  been  already  seen  by  Perez,  iJodoga,  or  Heceta ;  it  must 
be  repeated,  however,  that  he  had  no  knowledge  of  the  discov- 
eries effected  by  either  of  those  navigators.  After  passing  the  58th 
degree,  he  was,  as  he  frequently  acknowledges,  aided,  and  in  a 
measure  guided,  by  the  information  gleaned  from  the  accounts  of 
the  expeditions  of  Beering  and  other  Russians  who  had  explored 
that  part  of  the  Pacific  before  him.  This  is  said  without  any  de- 
sire to  detract  from  the  merits  of  the  gallant  English  commander, 
whose  skill  and  perseverance  were  as  extraordinary  us  his  hon- 
esty and  magnanimity;  but  merely  to  show  with  what  degree  of 
justice  his  Government  could  advance  claims  to  the  exclusive 
possession  of  any  part  of  Northwest  America  on  the  strength  of 
his  discoveries. 

While  the  British  ships  under  Gierke  and  Gore  were,  after  the 
death  of  Cook,  on  their  second  tour  through  the  northernmost 
parts  of  the  Pacific,  the  Spaniards  were  engaged  in  another  at- 
tempt to  extend  their  knowledge  of  the  west  coasts  of  America. 
For  this  purpose  two  vessels,  called  the  Princesa  and  the  Favor- 
Feb.  II.  ita,  sailed  from  San  Bias  on  the  11th  of  February,  1779,  under 
the  command,  respectively,  of  Lieutenants  Ignacio  Arteaga  and 
Juan  Francisco  de  la  Bodega  y  Quadra.  The  latter  was  the  same 
officer  who  had  in  1776  explored  the  Pacific  to  the  68th  degree 
of  latitude,  as  before  related ;  and  he  was  again  accompanied  by 
Antonio  Maurelle  as  ensign,  from  whoso  journal  nearly  all  the 
information  respecting  the  expedition  in  question  has  been  de- 
rived. 


Of  this 

Sun  Bla.s  I 

\vlii<;h  hui 

5()th  degrt 

cinily,  the 

they  next 

;il(tMg  the 

with  the  I 

large  gulf 

mountains 

have  been 

Here  their 

\,A  I'erou! 

reached  th 

cued  fartht 

Russians. 

^Hist,  and  ( 

Bias, »  win 

remained  ) 

any  loss  b; 

benefit  in 

northwest 


*  The  Rna 
voliiint'  of  tin 
Mniirelle  him 
ihe  conduct  u 
!i(i  means  ^en 
(ipporiiinity  o 
■»ge  were,  in 


•"   V' 


(■•-I- 1 


}}  ^  ; 


85 


of  this  voyago  a  very  sliort  accoiim*  will  be  siiinticiii.    From     r7<). 
San  Ulas  the  SpaniardN  sailcil  din-rtly  li»r  P<'rl  Uucart'li,  tin-  bay  p.. .  n. 
wliioli  bad  liueii  discovered  l)y  Bodega  and  iMaurcIle  near  thti  Mty\. 
50ih  dogrt'o  of  latitude.    Tbis  bay,  as  well  as  tlie  shores  in  its  vi- 
cinity, they  surveyed  with  care  ;  after  quitting  it,  the  iKtint  whicli    Jniy  i. 
they  next  saw  was  Mount  Saint  Eli  >s,  whence  they  pruceedod   Juiy!». 
:il<>rig  the  coast  towards  tfie  west,  frci^ueiitly  landing  and  tradiiin: 
with  the  natives.     Iti  the  beginning  of  August  tliey  entered  a  Aii«  I 
large  gulf  containing  many  islands,  and  sunwiii  led  by  high 
mountains,  which,  from  the  doK'^riptions  ^i\en  by  Muurelle,  nmst 
have  been  tlie  some  called  by  Co  'k  Prince   William's  Sound. 
Here  their  researches  terminated,  for  what  reason  we  do  not  learn. 
La  Perouso  says  that  Arteaga  supposed   liiuiself  to  have  then 
reached  the  coast  of  Komschutka,  and  that  he  was  fearful  to  pro- 
ceed farther,  lest  ho  should  bo  attacked  and  overpowered  by  the 
Russians.  The  sliips  departed  from  the  great  gulf  on  the  7th  of  Au-   Aug.  7. 
gust,  and  on  tho  21st  or  November  following  they  arrived  at  San  Nor,  31. 
Ulas, "  whore,"  says  Fleurieu,  with  some  justice, "  they  might  have 
remained  without  our  knowledge  iu  geography  having  sustained 
any  loss  by  their  inaction."    Tiie  voyage,  in  fact,  produced  little 
benefit  in  any  way ;  it  was  the  last  made  by  Spaniard.s  to  the 
northwest  coast  of  America  before  1788. 


♦  The  Hi'i  aUM  part  of  Mauicllu 's  journal  of  this-  voyajjc  may  lie  foiirnl  in  tin.'  first 
voliiiiR' of  lliL'  Niirratire  of  La  Pfroiise's  Voya;T,*.  Ln  p^roiiM'  ohtnined  it  from 
Mnurelle  himself  at  .Manilla  in  17H7,  auil  has  made  some  observations  respecting 
ihe  conduct  of  the  Spaniard.s  as  therein  related,  which,  though  possibly  ju:>t,  are  by 
!io  means  ^cncrons.  Flciiricii,  the  editor  of  La  Pf  rouse's  Jouninl,  ilid  tiut  omit  ilw 
iipporiunity  of  casting  ridicule  upon  the  Spaniards,  whose  efforts  during  this  voy- 
age were,  in  truth,  not  calculaied  to  redeem  their  character  for  perseverance. 


i  ■       <  I 


!      t.   .,(    t    ;     »   '       *    Mr     |.     ■    ■. 

,   it    r]   :    ,■:  ■!       .  ■        ..;.,         ■   ^ 

-.  '  '*     .■■;,.i,c   •■        -IU.       •   ■    i    > 


\U] 


I     i 


it'' I 

k  1 


tli  i! 

j     I  M 


I 
'  1 

■il 

1    ■ 

'i 
■i 

i  , 

Il  ' 

I; 

y 

il 

86 


ITTti 

1785. 


1785. 


CHAPTEH  V. 

Voyages  and  discoveiics  in  ilie  north  Pacific,  betwoen  1779  and  1790— Commence- 
ment of  the  ilirect  trade  in  furs  from  the  northwest  coasts  of  America  to  Can- 
ton— Voyage  of  La  Pt'rouse— First  voyages  of  citizens  of  the  United  Slates  loihe 
rorihwest  coasts — Discovery  of  the  Strait  of  Fuca— Attempt  made  by  John  Led- 
yard  to  cross  the  northern  part  of  the  American  continent. 

Whilst  Cook  was  engaged  in  his  last  expedition,  Great  Brit- 
ain became  involved  in  wars  with  the  United  States  of  America, 
France,  and  Spain ;  and  as  there  was  no  prospect  of  a  speedy 
termination  of  the  contests  at  the  time  when  the  ships  sent  out  un- 
der tliat  commander  returned  to  Europe,  the  British  Government 
considered  it  prudent  to  Avithhold  from  the  world  all  information 
respecting  their  voyage.  The  regular  journals  of  the  ships,  togeth- 
er with  the  private  notes  and  memoranda  of  the  officers  and  men 
whicli  could  be  collected,  were  in  consequence  placed  under  the 
charge  of  the  Board  of  Admiralty,  and  thus  remained  concealed 
until  peace  had  been  restored.  Notwithstanding  this  care,  how- 
ever, many  of  the  occurrences  of  the  expedition  became  known, 
the  importance  or  the  novelty  of  which  was  such  as  to  raise  to 
the  highest  degree  the  curiosity  of  the  public,  not  only  in  Eng- 
land, but  in  all  other  civilized  countries. 

The  wars  having  been  at  length  concluded,  the  journals  of  the 
expedition  were  published  at  London  in  the  winter  of  1784- '5, 
under  the  care  of  a  learned  ecclesiastic,  in  three  quarto  volumes, 
accompanied  by  charts,  tables,  and  all  other  illustrative  appli- 
ances ;  and  it  is  scarcely  necessary  to  add,  that  the  anticipations 
Avhich  had  been  formed  with  regard  to  the  importance  of  their 
contents  were  fully  realized. 

The  statements  contained  in  this  work  respecting  the  great 
abundance  of  animals  yielding  fine  furs  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
north  Pacific,  and  the  high  prices  paid  for  their  skins  in  China, 
did  not  fail  immediately  to  arrest  the  attention  of  enterprising 
men;  and  preparations  were  commenced  in  various  parts  of  En- 
rope,  in  the  East  Indies,  and  in  the  United  States  of  America,  to 
profit  by  the  information.  At  that  period  the  trade  in  those  arti- 
cles was  conducted  almost  wholly  by  the  Russians  and  the  Brit- 
ish, between  which  nations,  however,  there  was  no  competition 
in  this  particular.  The  Russians  procured  their  furs  chiefly  in  the 
northern  parts  of  their  own  empire,  and  exported  to  China  by  land 
all  which  were  not  required  for  their  own  use.  The  British  fur 
market  was  supplied  entirely  from  Hudson's  Bay  and  Canada ; 
and  a  great  portion  of  the  skins  there  collected  were  sent  to  Rus- 
sia, whence  many  of  them  found  their  way  to  China,  though 
none  had  ever  been  sliipped  directly  for  the  latter  country.  That 
the  furs  of  Canada  and  Hudson's  Bay  could  be  sold  advanta- 


geously 

considei 

the  incr 

profits  n 

China  a 

were  to 

in  any  o 

this  dim 

after  the 

expenses 

mented ; 

the  fullei 

labors  as 

The  fi 

from  the 

by  James 

Canton  i 

following 

begiiminj 

whom  th( 

a  trade  Wi 

to  Cantor 

valuable  1 

which  sh( 

In  the  i 

c»tion  of  I 
land  to  th 
granted  to 
lected  wei 
in  virtue  o 
pany,  carj 
associatioi 
the  Queen 
George,  bj 
er  iji  July 
years  vess 
the  Pacific 
pany;  froi 
and  Portu 
Company, 
All  thes 
wholly  or 
commercif 
great  navi 
time  from 
larly  to  ex 
which  hac 
the  Russia 
formation 
in  those  u 
found  con 


10— Commcnce- 
.merica  to  Can- 
ted Siales  10  the 
ie  by  John  Led- 


i,  Great  Brit- 
i  of  America, 
of  a  speedy 
1  sent  out  un- 
Goverument 
I  information 
?hips,togeth- 
?ers  and  men 
cd  under  the 
ed  concealed 
lis  care,  how- 
came  known, 
as  to  raise  to 
only  in  Eng- 

jurnals  of  the 
r  of  1784-'5, 
arto  volumes, 
trative  appli- 
anticipations 
tance  of  their 

ing  the  great 
icinity  of  the 
[ins  in  China, 
f  enterprising 
s  parts  of  Eu- 
of  America,  to 
in  those  arti- 
and  the  Urit- 
lo  competition 
chiefly  in  the 
China  by  land 
'he  British  fur 
and  Canada; 
e  sent  to  Rus- 
'hina,  though 
ountry.    That 
sold  advanta- 


87 

geously  at  Canton,  appeared  to  be  certain,  even  allowing  for  a 
considerable  diminution  of  prices  at  that  place  in  consequence  of 
the  increase  in  the  supply ;  and  it  was  supposed  that  still  larger 
profits  might  be  secured  by  means  of  a  direct  intercourse  between 
China  and  the  northern  coasts  of  the  Pacific,  where  the  finest  furs 
were  to  be  obtained  in  greater  quantities  and  more  easily  than 
in  any  other  part  of  the  world.  There  could  be  no  doubt  that 
this  diminution  of  prices  at  Canton  would  take  place  immediately 
after  the  establishment  of  the  trade,  and  it  was  probable  that  the 
expenses  and  difficulties  of  procuring  the  furs  would  also  be  aug- 
mented -,  therefore  it  was  material  that  those  who  wished  to  reap 
the  fullest  harvests  upon  this  new  field,  should  commence  their 
labors  as  speedily  as  possible. 

The  first  expedition  made  to  the  northwest  coasts  of  America 
from  the  south,  for  the  purpose  of  collecting  furs,  was  conducted 
by  James  Hanna,  an  Englishman,  who  sailed  in  a  small  brig  from 
Canton  in  April,  1785,  and  arrived  at  Nootka  Sound  in  August 
following.  The  natives  of  the  surrounding  country  were  in  the 
beginning  entirely  opposed  to  all  intercourse  with  the  strangers, 
whom  they  endeavored  to  destroy ;  after  a  few  combats,  hoAvever, 
a  trade  was  established  between  the  parties,  and  the  brig  returned 
to  Canton  before  the  close  of  the  year,  with  a  cargo  of  the  most 
valuable  furs  in  place  of  the  old  iron  and  coarse  manufactures 
whicli  she  had  carried  out  in  the  spring. 

In  the  same  year  an  association  of  merchants,  called  the  Kinc!' 
Geor^t'^a  Sound  Compam/,  was  formed  in  London  for  the  prose- 
cation  of  this  trade,  by  means  of  vessels  sent  directly  from  Eng- 
land to  the  northwest  coasts,  for  which  an  exclusive  license  was 
granted  to  them  by  the  South  Sea  Company,  the  furs  there  col- 
lected were  to  be  carried  for  sale  to  Canton,  and  from  that  pla^e, 
in  virtue  of  a  special  permission  conceded  by  the  East  India  Com- 
pany, cargoes  of  tea  were  to  be  brought  back  to  London.  This 
association  immediately  despritched  to  the  north  Pacific  two  ships, 
the  Queen  Charlotte, commanded  by  Captain  Dixon,  and  the  King 
George,  by  Captain  Portlock,  who  arrived  together  in  Cook's  Riv- 
er in  July,  1786.  In  the  course  of  this  and  the  two  following 
years  vessels  were  also  sent  to  be  employed  in  the  fur  trade  of 
the  Pacific — from  Bombay  and  Calcutta  by  the  East  India  Com- 
pany ;  from  Macao  and  Canton  by  various  individuals,  EngUsh 
and  Portuguese;  and  from  Ostend,  by  the  Austrian  East  India 
Company,  or  rather  under  its  flag. 

All  these  vessels  appeared  to  have  been  owned  and  equipped 
wholly  or  principally  by  British  subjects.  The  French  made  no 
commercial  expeditions  for  the  same  purpose  before  1790 ;  their 
great  navigator.  La  Perouse,  however,  on  departing  for  the  last 
time  from  his  country,  in  August,  1785,  was  instructed  '*  particu- 
larly to  explore  those  parts  of  the  northwest  coast  of  America 
which  had  not  been  examined  by  Captain  Cook,  and  of  which 
the  Russian  accounts  gave  no  idea,"  with  the  view  of  obtaining  in- 
formation relative  to  the  fur  trade,  as  well  as  of  learning  "whether 
in  those  unknown  parts  some  river  or  internal  sea  may  not  be 
found  communicating  with  Hudson's  or  Baffin's  Bay."    The 


1785. 


ii' 


178G 

to 
1788. 


M 


iW 


'1  ii 


h:\ 


178G. 

June  'J  I 

to 
Sept.  'Jl 


Sept. 
Kepi. 


1    .\ 


% 


1780. 


1787 


178;} 
1787. 


88 

multiplicity  of  the  affairs  in  every  department  of  knowledge,  to 
Avhicli  La  Perouse  was  required  to  attend  during  this  voyage, 
prevented  him  from  devoting  more  than  three  months  to  the  ob- 
jects above  specified ;  and  of  that  time  he  passed  one-third  at  an- 
chor in  a  bay  named  by  him  Pari  des  Francais^  near  Mount 
Saint  Elias,  where  he  first  made  the  land  on  the  northwest  coast 
of  America.  From  the  Port  des  Francais  he  sailed  along  the 
western  shores  of  the  continent  and  of  the  great  islands  in  its  vi- 
cinity, which  were  then  supposed  to  be  parts  of  the  main  land, 
as  far  Monterey;  and  thence,  after  a  few  days  spent  in  maliing 
observations  and  inquiries,  he  departed  for  the  East  Indies. 

The  remarks  and  opinions  of  the  gallant  and  accomplished 
French  navigator,  upon  many  subjects  relative  to  the  northwest 
coast,  display  great  sagacity,  and  have  been  since  generally  con- 
firmed; he,  however,  made  no  important  discoveries,  and  the 
wliole  value  of  the  information  acquired  by  him  was  lost  to  the 
world  in  consequence  of  the  delay  in  publishing  it.  The  jour- 
nals of  his  expedition  did  not  appear  in  print  until  1797,  at  which 
period  the  Pacific  coasts  of  North  America  were  almost  as  well 
known  as  those  of  its  Atlantic  side. 

The  Spanish  Govermuent  endeavored  also  to  secure  for  itself 
a  }x)rtion  of  the  advantages  to  be  derived  from  the  fur  trade. 
Agreeably  to  its  usual  policy  in  such  cases,  an  agent  was  sent 
from  Mexico  to  the  western  side  of  California,  where  he  was 
charged  to  collect  all  the  furs  procurable  at  the  different  settle- 
ments, and  thence  to  carry  them  for  sale  to  Canton.  The  adven- 
ture, however,  proved  unprofitable.  A  few  skins  only,  and  thqge 
of  inferior  quality,  could  be  collected  in  California;  and  ere  the 
agent  arrived  with  them  in  Canton,  which  was  in  the  spring  of 
1787,  the  price  of  furs  had  been  so  much  lowered  that  scarcely 
enough  could  be  obtained  from  the  sale  of  his  stock  to  cover  the 
expenses  of  its  transportation.  The  Canton  market  was,  indeed, 
already  glutted  with  furs,  which  were,  according  to  La  P6rouse, 
actually  cheaper  there  in  that  year  than  in  Kamschatka. 

The  Russians  were  in  the  mean  time  extending  their  inter- 
course with  the  American  coasts  and  their  establishments  upon 
them ;  even  before  the  publication  of  Cook's  journals,  they  had 
begun  to  avail  themselves  of  the  information  respecting  his  dis- 
coveries, which  had  been  obtained  while  the  English  ships  were 
at  Unalashka  and  Petro-Paulowsk,  and  an  association  had  been 
formed  among  the  principal  fur-merchants  of  Eastern  Russia  for 
the  more  effectual  conduct  of  their  aflairs.  Li  August,  1783, 
three  vessels  which  had  been  equipped  by  this  association  foi  a 
long  voyage  sailed  for  America  from  Ochotsk,  under  the  direction 
of  Gregory  Shellikof,  one  of  the  chiefs  of  the  company.  Their 
expedition  laoted  four  years,  during  which  period  the  shores  of 
the  continent  and  islands  between  the  southern  extremity  of  Ali- 
aska  and  Prince  William's  Sound  were  explored,  and  several  col- 
onies and  factories  were  established,  particularly  on  the  large 
Island  of  Kuktuk,  or  Kodiak,  situated  near  the  entrance  of  Cook's 
Inlet.  This  Shellikof  was  a  man  of  great  intrepidity  and  perse- 
v^ance,  well  aaqj^^ainted  with  the  business  in  which  he  was  eu- 


whicli 


owledge,  to 
lis  voyage, 
s  to  the  ob- 
third  at  an- 
iiear  Mount 
hwest  coast 
1  along  the 
ds  in  its  vi- 
niain  land, 
t  in  making 
ndies. 

cconiplished 
le  northwest 
nerally  con- 
es, and  the 
IS  lost  to  the 
The  jour- 
97,  at  which 
nost  as  well 

ure  for  itself 
le  fur  trade. 
3nt  was  sent 
here  he  was 
ferent  settle- 
The  adven- 
ly,  and  thqge 
and  ere  the 
the  spring  of 
that  scarcely 
I  to  cover  the 
t  was,  indeed, 
»  La  P6rouse, 
itka. 

g  their  inter- 
innents  upon 
lals,  they  had 
:ting  his  dis- 
sh  ships  were 
ion  had  been 
^rn  Russia  for 
Vugust,  1783, 
lociation  for  a 
r  the  direction 
ipany.  Their 
the  shores  of 
tremity  of  Ali- 
id  several  col- 
on the  large 
ince  of  Cook's 
lity  and  perse- 
ch  he  was  eu- 


89 

gaged,  and  never  troubled  by  any  scruples  with  regard  to  the  hu-  17»7. 
manity  of  measures  after  their  expediency  had  been  demonstrated. 
He  is  said  to  have  exhibited  the  most  barbarous  disposition  in 
his  treatment  of  the  natives  on  the  American  coasts,  of  whom  he 
often  put  to  death  whole  tribes  upon  the  slightest  prospect  of  ad- 
vantage.* 

In  1788  two  other  vessels  were  sent  out  by  this  association,  17S8 
under  Gerassim  Ismyloff,  one  of  the  traders  whom  Cook  had 
found  at  Unalashka,  and  Demitri  Betschareff.  They  proceeded 
as  far  eastward  as  Mount  San  Jacinto,  or  Mount  Edgecumb,  tra- 
ding with  the  natives  and  taking  possession  of  the  country  in  the 
name  of  the  Empress  of  Russia. 

The  Russian  Government  became  also  desirous  to  have  a  sci- 
entific expedition  made  through  these  seas,  for  which  purpose 
the  Empress  engaged  Captain  Joseph  Billings,  one  of  Cook's 
lieutenants,  and  some  other  English  and  Germans,  as  officers,  as- 
tronomers, and  naturalists.  These  persons  were  sent  in  1786  to 
Ochotsk,  where  two  vessels  were  being  built  for  their  voyage. 
The  preparations  were,  however,  conducted  so  slowly,  that  Bil- 
lings did  not  got  to  sea  until  May,  1790,  he  and  his  party  having 
been  in  the  interval  engaged  in  exploring  the  northern  coasts  of 
Siberia.  An  account  of  their  expedition  will  be  presented  here- 
after. 

The  citizens  of  the  United  States  of  America  appeared  in  the 
north  Pacific  to  claim  a  share  of  tlie  advantages  of  the  fur  trade, 
within  a  short  period  after  its  commencement  in  that  quarter  of 
the  ocean.  All  the  accounts  hitherto  published  of  their  early  expe- 
ditions for  this  purpose  are  defective,  and  in  general  en'oneous  ; 
very  little  information  concerning  tliem  is,  indeed,  to  be  obtained 
at  tlie  present  day,  and  that  little  must  be  in  part  collected  from 
the  journals  of  British  and  Spanish  navigators,  upon  whose  state- 
ments we  cannot  always  rely.  From  the  authorities  here  indica- 
ted, as  well  as  from  some  others  more  worthy  of  credit,!  have 
been  compiled  the  slender  notices  of  American  voyages  and  dis- 
coveries in  the  Pacific,  between  1780  and  1793,  contained  in  this 
and  the  two  next  succeeding  chapters. 

The  first  voyages  frotJi  the  United  States  to  the  northwest     i78f>, 
coasts  of  America  were  made  hy  the  ship  Cohirnbin,  of  220  tons, 
and  the  sloop  Waslnn<j[toii,  or  Lndif  Wnshin'j^tnn,  of  90  tons,  under 
the  command,  respectively,  of  John  Kendrick  and  Robert  Gray. 
They  were  fitted  out  by  an  association  of  merchants  at  Boston, 


*  Sniior's  Arcount  of  llie  Russian  Expo.liiion,  under  Billin5;s. 

t  The  principal  anihoriiies  to  wliicli  rcferiMU-e  will  be  made  in  these  notices  are; 
the  slati'inent  of  Charles  Bulfinch,  one  of  the  owners  of  the  Golnuibia  and  Washini;- 
ton,  appended  to  the  report  of  the  Committee  ofForci^'n  Relations  to  the  House  of 
iU'presenta'ives  of  the  United  Slates  on  ihe  Itli  of  January,  ISIil),  and  ptihlished  m 
many  newspapers  hoi h  before  and  since;  ihe  Journal  of  the  Voyages  of  Capiain 
John  Mearc^  in  ihe  Norih  Pacific  in  17*''^,  and  his  memorial  and  documents  ad- 
dressed lo  ihe  Brilish  Parliament  in  the  following:  year;  ihe  Journal  of  the  Voyaii;e 
of  Capiain  Geori^e  Vancouver  in  the  Pacific  from  17!) I  lo  1795;  ihe  Journal  oi'  the 
Voyajc  of  the  Sulil  and  Mexicann;  and  iln-  mnnusiMi))l  Journal  of  the  Voyafje  of 
the  Urii;;  Hope  of  Boston,  commanded  l)V  Joseph  ln.;iaham,  from  17II0  to  1793, 
which  is  preserved  in  the  library  of  the  Depanmenl  ol"  Slate  at  Washington. 


17t=S 
to 

179;^. 


Ill' 


Ml 


l^i 


i;   |i' 


\\X 


1  ■. 


I  1^ 


H 


90 


,m'^' 


1788. 
Sept.  17 


May  2vS. 
Sepi. 


1787.    and,  having  been  furnished  with  sea-letters  from  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment, and  passports  from  the  authorities  of  the  State  of  Massa- 
chusetts, they  sailed  together  from  Boston  on  the  30lh  of  Sep- 
Sept.  30.  tember,  1787  * 

The  two  vessels  proceeded  first  to  the  Cape  Verd  Islands, 
wliere  they  obtained  refreshments,  and  thence  to  the  Falkland 
Islands,  among  which  they  passed  a  fortnight.  They  then  doubled 
Cape  Horn,  and  were  immediately  afterwards  separated  during  a 
violent  gale.  The  Washington,  continuing  her  course  northward, 
arrived  at  Nootka  on  the  17th  of  September,  1788.  The  Colum- 
bia received  some  damage  in  the  storm,  in  consequence  of  which 
May  21.  she  on  the  24th  of  May  put  into  the  principal  harbor  of  the  Island 
of  Juan  Fernandez,  where  she  was  treated  with  hospitality  by 
the  Spanish  commandant,  Don  Bias  Gonzales.f  The  damage 
having  been  repaired.  Captain  Kendrick  set  sail  again  on  the 
28th,  and  joined  the  Washington  before  the  end  of  September  at 
Nootka  Sound,  where  both  vessels  spent  the  winter. 

Nootka  was,  indeed,  the  place  to  which  vessels  sailing  for  the 
northwest  coasts  of  America  from  the  south  generally  directed 
their  course  at  that  time,  and  from  which  they  took  their  depar- 
ture on  returning;  as  it  appeared  to  otfcr  greater  facilities  for  ob- 
taining water  and  provisions,  as  well  as  for  repairs,  than  any  oth- 
er harbor  in  that  part  of  the  ocean.  The  sound  is  easily  entered 
and  quitted  with  the  prevailing  winds,  and  it  affords  secure  and 
convenient  anchorage  for  ships  of  any  size,  ptuticularly  in  a  small 
bay  on  the  northwest  side,  called  by  the  natives  U(juot  or  Uqiiatl, 
and  by  the  English  Friendly  Cove.  Although  it  lies  between 
the  49th  and  50th  parallels,  and  thus  corresponds  in  latitude  with 
the  mouth  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  its  climate  appears  from  all  ac- 
counts to  be  much  milder,  and  more  nearly  resembling  that  of 
Halifax  in  Nova  Scotia,  which  is  situated  five  degrees  farther 
southward.  The  grains,  fruits,  and  vegetables,  as  well  as  the  do- 
mestic fowls  and  quadrupeds  of  England  and  the  northern  States 
of  the  American  Union,  thrive  there  and  produce  plentifully;  the 
surrounding  country  is  covered  with  the  finest  timber,  and  the 
waters  abound  in  fish,  and  in  the  animals  yielding  the  most  pre- 
cious furs. 

The  aborigines  of  this  part  of  North  America  are  certainly 
among  tiio  most  savage  and  treacherous  of  the  whole  human 
family ;  they  are  of  a  race  entirely  distinct  from  any  of  those 
which  were  found  occupying  the  middle  and  eastern  sections  of 
the  continent,  and  probably  belong  to  that  of  tlie   Tsclnitzky, 

*  The  owners  of  lliese  ves'iels  wera  Joseph  B.irrdl,  Samuel  Brown,  Charles  Bnl- 
finch,  ,Tohn  Darby,  Crowrl  Hatch,  and  John  M  Piaianl ;  one  of  whom,  C.  Bulfiiich, 
is  still  ( IK 10)  livinjj  at  Boston.  Each  vessel  took  out,  for  distribulioii  among  the  na- 
tives of  tlie  places  which  she  miijht  visit, a  number  of  coin.s,  struck  for  tlie  purpose, 
bearin:?  on  one  side  a  ship  and  a  sloop  under  sail,  wiih  the  words  "  Cnluuihia  and 
lVasM)iislon  conmindcd  )iy  John.  Kv.ntbick"  and  on  the  reverse,  "  Fitted  out  at  Bos- 
ton, \orl/i  Aiwricii,  for  the  Pacific  Oay/.n  hij"  —encircUni;  the  names  of  tlie  propri- 
etors.    A  facsimile  ol  tiiis  medal  will  lie  round  on  ilie  map. 

t  This  ollicer  was  soon  after  deprived  of  his  cominind  and  arrested,  by  lii-  superi- 
or, the  captain  general  of  Chili,  i'or  thus  disobeying  the  law  of  the  Indifs  prohibitini; 
the  entrance  of  foreigners  under  any  pretext  into  the  American  dominions  of  Spaiii. 


ederal  Gov- 
e  of  Massa- 
}lh  of  Scp- 

rd  Islands, 
e  Falkland 
en  doubled 
3d  during  a 
northward, 
'he  Colum- 
ce  of  which 
f  the  Island 
•spitality  by 
'he  damage 
jain  on  the 
eptember  at 

ling  for  the 
Uy  directed 
their  depar- 
ities  for  ob- 
an  any  oth- 
sily  entered 
secure  and 
ly  in  a  small 
^t  or  Uqxiatl^ 
ies  between 
atitude  with 
from  all  ac- 
jling  that  of 
frees  farther 
ill  as  the  do- 
thern  States 
ntifuUy ;  the 
bcr,  and  the 
lie  most  pre- 

ire  certainly 
hole  human 
ny  of  those 
1  sections  of 
TsclaUzky, 


n,  Charles  Bnl- 
)rn,  C.  Biilfiuch, 
I  aiming  the  na- 
t'or  llie  imrpose, 
"  CoUuiibia  ami 
Httcd  mil  at  Bas- 
es of  the  propri- 

id,by  lii- siiperi- 
(lies  prohibiiitiij 
linioiis  of  Spaia. 


91 

inhabiting  the  northernmost  regions  of  Asia.  These  barbarians 
evinced,  at  first,  the  utmoi;t  hostility  to  the  fur-traders ;  they, 
however,  soon  acquired  a  taste  for  blankets,  knives,  and  other 
foreign  articles,  to  gratify  which  they  became  willing  not  only  to 
tolerate  the  presence  of  the  strangers,  but  also  to  hunt,  fish,  cut 
wood,  and  labor  for  them  in  various  other  ways. 

The  king,  or  principal  chief,  of  the  tribes  residing  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  Nootka  Sound  at  that  period,  was  named  Mmfiuma  or  Ma- 
quilla ;  his  relation  Wiccaimish  ruled  over  the  districts  next  ad- 
joining on  the  southeast,  and  bordering  upon  the  Bays  of  Clyo- 
(fuot  or  Port  Cox,  and  Nittiimt  or  Berkley  Sound.  They  Mere 
both  courageous,  artful,  and  ferocious  savages,  as  was  amply  de- 
monstrated by  their  many  acts  of  blood  and  perfidy  against  each 
other,  and  against  the  foreigners  who  frequented  their  territories. 

From  Nootka,  the  shores  of  the  continent,  and  those  of  the 
western  sides  of  the  outermost  great  islands  in  its  vicinity,  Avere 
explored  by  the  English  and  American  fur-traders  northward  as 
far  as  Cook's  River,  and  southward  nearly  to  Cape  Mendocino. 
The  vessels  thus  employed  were  in  general  commanded  by  ex- 
perienced and  intelligent  mariners,  well  acquainted  with  the  sci- 
ence of  navigation,  and  provided  with  the  best  m.struments  lor 
ascertaining  geographical  positions ;  and  it  being  material  for  each, 
in  order  to  obtain  a  cargo  of  furs  speedily  and  cheaply,  to  find  .is 
many  places  as  possible  which  had  not  been  ])rcviously  visited 
by  the  others,  a  great  deal  of  tolerably  precise  information  relative 
to  these  coasts  was  collected  during  tlic  five  years  immediately 
following  the  commoncement  of  the  trade.  This  information  was, 
indeed,  in  most  cases,  kept  secret  by  those  who  had  acquired  it ; 
interchanges  of  charts  and  notes,  however,  occasionally  took 
place  among  them,  and  at  length,  in  the  course  of  17S9  and  1790, 
complete  narratives  of  three  commeicial  expeditions  to  the  north 
Pacific  were  published  in  London  by  tliose  wlio  had  respectively 
commanded  in  them.*  These  works  are  all  tedious,  on  iiccount 
of  the  minuteness  of  the  details  of  personal  and  trifiiiig  matters, 
and  the  statements  arc  often  erroneous  or  false ;  they,  however, 
afford  the  means  of  tracing  with  sufficient  exactness  the  progress 
of  discovery,  and  what  may  be  called  the  /lisiori/  of  the  north- 
western portion  of  America,  within  the  al)Ovemeutioned  period. 

It  will  be  proper  here  to  give  a  sketch  of  some  of  the  most  re- 
markable discoveries  effected  by  the  British  and  American  fur- 
traders  between  1785  and  1790. 

In  the  summer  of  17S7  Captain  Berkely,in  the  ship  Imperiul 
Eagle,  from  Ostend,  while  examining  the  coast  southeast  from 
Nootka,  entered  a  broad  arm  of  the  sea,t  between  the  4Stli  and 
■49th  degrees  of  latitude,  which  api)cared  to  penetrate  the  Amer- 
ican continent  in  an  easterly  direction ;  and  as  it  corresponded 
almost  exactly  with  the  mouth  of  the  passage  through  which  the 


♦  Ponlock,  Di.voii,  and  Mt.';i:».  Tiie  uarialivc  of  the  last  mcn'ioned  ji.'i'sjii  will 
be  fie(iuenlly  n'ferre<t  to  in  ihe  scfinel. 

■t  It  issinsiilarthai  this  iiiipDriani  discovery  sluuilil  have  been  made  under  the  flag 
oi' Aiisiiia. 


178.') 

to 

ITilO. 


1787. 


:i  I 


t 


ii  i» 


'*!li, 


!'i  I 


'  !• 


i::l; 


U 


92 


1787. 


1788, 


1787. 


May. 
Julv. 


Greek  pilot,  Juan  de  Fuca,  declared  that  he  had  sailed  into  the 
Atlantic  in  1592,  it  immediately  received  the  name  of  the  Strait 
of  Plica.  Berkely  did  not,  however,  explore  it  to  any  considerable 
distance  from  the  Pacific.  Captain  Meares  in  1788  sent  one  of 
his  mates  in  a  boat  up  the  passage,  who  reported,  on  returning, 
that  he  "  had  sailed  thirty  leagues  in  it  from  the  sea,  and  that  it 
was  there  about  fifteen  leagues  broad,  with  a  clear  horizon  stretch- 
ing to  the  east  about  fifteen  leagues  farther."  Captain  Gray,  in 
the  Washington,  in  1789,  proceeded  fifty  miles  in  the  same  pas- 
sage, and  found  it  nowhere  more  than  five  leagues  in  width.  An 
exaggerated  account  of  this  part  of  Gray's  voyage  was  carried  to 
Europe  by  Meares  in  1790,  and  it  contributed  materially  to  in- 
duce the  Governments  of  Spain  and  England  to  order  those  ex- 
peditions, which  were  so  successfully  conducted  during  the 
three  following  years  by  the  navigators  of  each  nation.  It  was 
said  that  the  Washington  had  sailed  through  the  strait  into  an 
interior  sea,  from  which  she  passed  again  into  the  Pacific  about 
the  56th  degree  of  latitude.  The  .account  that  such  a  voyage 
had  been  made  was  incorrect;  but  Captain  Gray  collected  infor- 
mation from  the  natives  of  the  coasts,  Avhich  left  no  doubt  on  his 
mind  that  the  passage  communicated,  northward  of  Nootka,  with 
the  Pacific,  by  an  opening  to  which  he  had  in  the  summer  of 
1789  given  the  name  of  Pintard's  Sound,  but  which  is  now  gen- 
erally called  Queen  Charlotte's  Sound.  This  opinion  was  veri- 
fied in  1792  by  Vancouver,  and  Galiano  and  Valdes. 

About  the  time  of  the  discovery,  or  rather  the  re-discovery,  of 
the  Strait  of  Fuca,  Captain  Dixon,  of  the  Queen  Charlotte,  from 
London,  conceived  that  the  land  which  had  been  seen  by  the 
Spaniards  in  1774  and  1775,  between  tfio  51st  and  the  54th  par- 
allels of  latitude,  was  separated  from  the  American  continent  by 
sea,  and  he  accordingly  bestowed  upon  it  the  name  of  Queen 
Clmrhttc''s  fsfand.  This  supposition  was  confirmed  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1789,  first  by  Captain  Gray  of  the  Washington,  and  after- 
wards by  Captain  Douglass  of  the  Iphigenia,  who  separately  cir 
cumnavigated  the  island.  Gray,  believing  himself  to  be  the  origi- 
nal discoverer  of  the  territory,  called  it  Wnsfihmton^s  hie ;  under 
which  appellation,  as  well  as  the  other  and  more  common  one,  it 
will  be  foiuid  laid  down  on  the  map  accompanying  this  memoir. 
In  the  same  summer  a  group  of  small  islands  were  found  near  the 
continent,  between  it  and  the  eastern  side  of  Queen  Charlotte's 
Island,  by  Captain  Duncan,  of  the  Princess  Royal,  fi'om  liOndon, 
who  in  like  manner  applied  to  them  the  name  of  his  vessel;  Fleu- 
rieu  considers  them  as  the  same  Avhich  were  seen  in  1786  by  La 
P^rouse,  and  were  called  by  him  Islett  de  Fleurieu. 

The  discovery  of  these  islands,  together  with  other  circum- 
stances, led  to  tlie  suspicion  that  the  whole  of  the  territories  ex- 
tending on  the  Pacific,  between  the  Strait  of  Fuca  and  the  vi- 
cinity of  Mount  Saint  Elas,  which  had  previously  been  consid- 
ered as  parts  of  the  American  continent,  might  1  v  ic-,  lly  a  col  • 
lection  of  islands ;  and,  as  this  suspicion  gained  strength,  the 
old  account  of  the  voyage  of  Admiral  Fonte  to  the  Atlantic  be- 
gan to  receive  some  credit.     The  islands  and  reputed  islands  in 


question  \ 
which  wei 
degree  of  1 
story  gave 
and  the  otl 
sailed  on  \ 

At  this 
John  Meai 
river,  whi( 
eating  witl 
ately  soutl 
first  seen 
the  maps 
some  insti 
Meares  of 

Meares 
46  degrees 
ing  thenc( 
promontor 
leagues,  fo 
tween  it  a 
bor.  We 
and  we  ph 
Saint  Roc 
found  a  gc 
the  distanc 
shore  in  o 
tare,  or  th 
swell  roUc 
from  forty 
we  had  ro 
opened  to 
into  whicl 

"Thoh 
a  great  *\\i- 
space ;  tli( 
steered  in, 
when  bre; 
the  mast-1 
therofl-ire, ' 
to  see  if  tl 

"Then 
tory,  and  i 
different  n 
10  minute 
31  minute 
such  river 
r/iftrts." 

This  as 


*  Meai'e 


led  into  the 
)f  the  Strait 
considerable 

sent  one  of 
n  returning, 
I,  and  that  it 
izon  stretch- 
ain  Gray,  in 
e  same  pas- 
i  width.  An 
as  carried  to 
srially  to  in- 
ter those  ex- 

during  the 
ion.  It  was 
trait  into  an 
'acific  about 
ch  a  voyage 
lected  infnr- 
Joubt  on  his 
Vootka,  with 
3  Slimmer  of 

is  now  gen- 
on  was  veri- 

discovery,  of 
larlotte,  from 
seen  by  the 
he  54th  par- 
continent  by 
ne  of  Qmen 

in  the  sum- 
in,  and  af^er- 
Ejparately  cir 
be  the  origi- 
?  hfe ;  under 
nmon  one,  it 
this  memoir, 
und  near  the 
11  Charlotte's 
romliondon, 
vessel;  Fleu- 

1786  by  La 

ther  circum- 
erritories  ex- 
i  and  the  vi- 
been  consid- 
i  It',  lly  a  col  • 
strength,  the 
Atlantic  he- 
ed islands  in 


93 

question  were  supposed  to  be  the  Archipelago  of  San  Lazaro,  1789. 
which  were  described  in  that  account  as  situated  near  the  53d 
degree  of  latitude  -,  and  this  apparent  confirmation  of  a  part  of  the 
story  gave  encouragement  for  the  hope  that  the  Rio  dc  los  Reyes, 
and  the  other  waters  through  which  the  Admiral  was  said  to  have 
sailed  on  his  way  to  the  Atlantic,  in  1640,  would  also  be  found. 

At  this  period,  moreover,  an  attempt  was  made  by  Captain  July. 
John  Meares,  in  the  Felice,  from  Macao,  to  discover  a  harbor  or 
river,  which  was  represented  on  the  Spanish  maps  as  communi- 
cating with  the  Pacific  near  the  46th  degree  of  latitude,  immedi- 
ately south  of  a  cape  called  San  Roque.  This  opening  had  been 
first  seen  by  Bruno  Heceta  in  August,  1775,  and  was  called  on 
the  maps  Entrada.  de  Hercta,  or  Entrada.  de  Ascencio?i,  and  in 
some  instances  Rio  de  Sati  Roque.  The  account  given  by 
Meares  of  his  search  is  wortliy  of  particular  attention. 

Meares  says  that  he  discovered  a  headland  in  the  latitude  of 
46  degrees  47  minutes,  which  he  called  Caj}c  Shoalwater ;  sail- 
ing thence  along  the  coast,  towards  the  south,  "an  high  bluff 
promontory  bore  off  us  southeast*  at  the  distance  of  only  four  .Inly  (5. 
leagues,  for  which  we  steered  to  double,  with  the  hope  that  be- 
tween it  and  Cape  Shoalwater  we  should  find  some  sort  of  har- 
bor. We  now  discovered  distant  land  beyond  this  promontory, 
and  wo  pleased  ourselves  with  the  expectation  of  its  being  Cape 
Saint  Roc  of  the  Spaniards,  near  which  they  are  said  to  have 
found  a  good  port.  Hy  half-past  eleven  we  doubled  this  cape  at 
the  distance  of  three  miles,  having  a  clear  and  perfect  view  of  the 
shore  in  every  part,  on  Avhicli  we  did  not  discern  a  living  crea- 
ture, or  the  least  trace  of  habitable  life.  A  prodigious  easterly 
swell  rolled  on  tlie  shore,  and  the  soundings  gradually  decreased 
from  forty  to  sixteen  fathoms  over  a  hard  sandy  bottom.  After 
we  had  romuled  the  promontory,  a  large  bay,  as  we  had  imagined, 
:  opened  to  our  view,  that  bore  a  very  promising  appearance,  and 
into  which  we  steered  with  every  encouraging  expectation. 

"The  high  land  that  formed  the  boundaries  of  the  bay  was  at  July  7. 
a  great  distance,  and  a  flat  level  country  occupied  the  intervening 
space ;  the  bay  itself  took  rather  a  westerly  direction.  As  we 
steered  in,  the  water  shoaled  to  nine,  eight,  and  seven  fathoms, 
wlien  breakers  were  seen  from  the  deck  right  ahead,  and  from 
the  mast-head  they  were  observed  to  extend  across  the  bay ;  we, 
tliercfl^re,  hauled  out,  and  directed  our  course  to  the  opposite  shore, 
to  see  if  there  was  any  channel,  or  if  we  could  discover  any  port. 

"  The  name  of  Cape  Disappoint iiieid  was  given  to  the  promon- 
tory, and  the  bay  obtained  the  title  of  Deception  Bay.  By  an  in- 
different meridian  observation,  it  lies  in  the  latitude  of  46  degrees 
10  minutes  north,  and  in  the  computed  longitude  of  235  degrees 
\M  minutes  east.  TI7'  can  now  with  safety  assert  that  there  is  no 
such  river  as  that  of  Saint  Roc  eansts,  as  laid  down  in  the  Spanish 
r  harts.'''' 

This  assertion,  though  somewhat  ungrammatically  expressed, 


♦  Menrci's  Account  ol  his  Voyage,  printed  at  London  in  1790,  page  167 


■a 


ti"l'' 


\ 


it  I 


U' 


u 


I  fH  \) 


1768.  is  yet  sufficiently  clear  and  explicit.  Captain  Meares  was  con- 
vinced by  his  observations  that  no  great  stream  entered  the  Pa- 
cific from  the  American  continent  near  the  latitude  and  places 
described  by  him.  How  far  this  conclusion  was  correct  will  be 
shown  hereafter. 

In  addition  to  the  discoveries  and  examinations  here  specified, 
the  British  and  American  fur-traders,  during  tlie  period  between 
1785  and  1790,  explored  many  other  parts  of  the  American  coast 
which  had  been  seen  by  the  Spaniards  or  by  Cook,  and  made 
numerous  corrections  in  the  charts  of  those  navigators ;  much, 
however,  remained  to  be  done  in  that  way  before  the  western 
shores  of  the  continent  could  be  accurately  known,  as  may  be 
seen  by  merely  comparing  the  charts  and  accounts  of  Portlock 
and  Meares  with  tliose  of  Vancouver  published  in  1797. 

The  fur  trade  between  the  northwest  coasts  of  Amcricu  and 
Canton  was,  for  some  years  after  its  establishment,  upon  the 
whole,  less  profitable  than  had  been  anticipated,  in  consequence 
doubtless  of  the  difficulty  of  forming  new  channels  of  commer- 
cial communication  in  China.  Whilst  the  market  at  Canton  was 
overstocked  with  those  articles,  they  were  in  great  demand  in  the 
northern  parts  of  the  empire,  which  continued  to  be,  as  formerly, 
supplied  directly  from  Russia.  The  first  adventure  of  the  citizens 
of  the  United  States  in  this  trade  was  entirely  unprofitable.  The 
skins  collected  by  the  Columbia  and  Washington  during  the 
summer  of  1789  did  not  exceed  in  number  eight  hunored;  they 
were  carried  in  the  autumn  of  that  year  to  Canton,  by  Captain 
Gray  in  the  Columbia,  (Kendrick  remaining  on  the  coast  in  tlie 
Washington,)  and  were  there  exchanged  for  teas  to  the  value  of 
about  sixty  thousand  dollars,  with  which  tlie  ship  anived,  by 
way  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  at  Boston,  on  the  9th  of  August, 
1790.  The  proceeds  of  the  sale  of  the  teas  did  not  cover  the  ex- 
penses of  the  outfit  and  voyage,  and  some  of  the  owners,  in  con- 
sequence, sold  out  their  shares ;  the  others,  however,  determined 
to  persevere,  and  the  Columbia  was  accordingly  soon  after  sent 
back  to  the  Pacific. 

It  would  be  improper  to  omit  to  notice  here  the  attempt  made  in 
1788  by  John  Ledyard,  a  native  of  Connecticut,  to  traverse  the 
northern  portion  of  the  American  continent.  Ledyard  had  accom- 
panied Cook,  in  the  capacity  of  sergeant  of  marines,  in  the  last  voy- 
age made  by  that  navigator ;  and,  after  its  conclusion,  he  went  to 
Paris  in  order  to  obtain  the  means  of  engaging  in  the  fur  trade  of 
the  north  Pacific.  Failing  in  that  object,  he  undertook,  at  the  sug- 
gestion of  Mr.  Jefferson,  then  Minister  Plenipotentiary  of  the  Uni- 
ted States  m  France,  to  make  the  attempt  abtwe  mentioned,  for 
which  purpose  it  was  arranged  that  he  should  go  by  land  to  Kani- 
schatka,  thence  by  sea  to  Nootka,  or  some  other  place  on  the  north- 
west coast  of  America,  and  thence  across  the  continent  to  the  Uni- 
ted States.  With  this  view,  permission  was  obtained  by  Mr.  Jef- 
ferson from  the  Empress  of  Russia  for  Ledyard  to  pass  through  her 
dominions;  and,  thus  protected,  he  advanced  on  his  way  as  far  as 
Irkutsk  in  Siberia,  near  Ochotsk,  where  he  expected  to  embark 
for  America.    At  that  place,  however,  he  was  arrested  by  order  of 


the  Empres 
into  an  opt 
allowed  to  s 
with  a  wan 
15th  of  NoA 
paring  to  s 
river  Nile. 

In  the  la 
relates,  eve 
which  rend 
dispute  bet 
seizure  of  t 
at  Nootka,  i 
war  in  Eur 
inent  on  thi 
tion  of  the  '. 
lories  of  An 
connected 
chapter. 


res  was  cen- 
tered the  Pa- 
le and  places 
orrect  will  be 

lere  specified, 
iriod  between 
[Tierican  coast 
)k,  and  made 
ators ;  much, 

the  western 
11,  as  may  be 
s  of  Portlock 
.797. 

America,  and 
lit,  upon  the 

consequence 
s  of  commer- 
it  Canton  was 
emand  in  the 
),  as  formerly, 
)f  the  citizens 
jfitable.  The 
n  during  the 
u  no  red;  they 
n,  by  Captain 
e  coast  in  the 
0  the  value  of 
p  arrived,  by 
Hli  of  August, 

cover  the  ex- 
vners,  in  coii- 
;r,  determined 
oon  after  sent 


u 

the  Empress  on  the  24th  of  February,  1788,  and,  having  been  put 
into  an  open  carriage,  he  was  thence  conveyed,  without  being 
allowed  to  stop,  to  the  frontiers  of  Poland,  where  he  was  liberated 
with  a  warning  not  again  to  enter  the  Russian  territory.  On  the 
15th  of  November  following  he  died  at  Cairo,  just  as  he  was  pre- 
paring to  set  out  on  a  journey  in  search  of  the  source  of  the 
river  Nile. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  period  to  which  the  present  chapter 
relates,  events  occurred  upon  the  northwest  side  of  America, 
which  rendered  those  territories  for  the  first  time  the  subject  of 
dispute  between  the  Governments  of  European  nat'ons.  The 
seizure  of  two  British  trading  vessels  by  a  Spanish  commandant 
at  Nootka,  in  the  spring  of  1789,  was  near  occasioning  a  general 
war  in  Europe ;  and  the  storm  was  only  averted  by  the  abandon- 
ment on  the  part  of  Spain  of  her  claims  to  the  exclusive  naviga- 
tion of  the  Pacific,  and  to  the  possession  of  the  unoccupied  terri- 
tories of  America  bordering  upon  that  ocean.  The  circumstances 
connected  with  ■  this  dispute  will  be  detailed  in  the  ensuing 
chapter. 


1783. 


i 


iiji 


t 


mi 


tempt  made  in 
o  traverse  the 
rd  had  accoiu- 
n  the  last  voy- 
n\,  he  went  to 
he  fur  trade  of 
ok,  at  the  sug- 
try  of  the  Uni- 
nentioncd,  for 
'  land  to  Kaui- 
i  on  the  north- 
Luit  to  the  Uni- 
ed  by  Mr.  Jef- 
ss  through  her 
s  way  as  far  as 
ted  to  embark 
ted  by  order  of 


t'i 


If  , 

h   < 


96 


CHAPTER    VI. 

Jcrilou-iy  nnd  nlnrni  of  the  Snnnish  Government  at  the  proceedings  of  llic  fnr-lra- 
(lers  in  the  north  Paeitie — Voyajje  of  observation  by  Martinez  anil  Haro  in  1788- 
UeinonMrancus  of  the  Coiirt'of  Madiiii  to  that  oi'  St  Peiersburuh— Voyages ul 
IMe.'iies  niiil  Ci  Inelt— Occniwiion  ofNootka,  ami  s(Mzure  of  vesst-ls  at  that  place 
hy  the  Spaniiirds  in  HHO — bispute  between  Great  Britain  and  Spain  ended  by  a 
treaty  between  those  Powers  relative  to  the  navigation  of  the  Pacific  and  the  pos- 
scsision  of  the  vacant  coasts  ol  America. 

i:65.  The  movements  of  the  fur-traders  in  the  north  Pacific  were 
from  the  beginning  regarded  with  uneasiness  by  the  Spanish 
Government.  The  estabhshment  of  foreigners  upon  the  coasts  of 
that  ocean  adjacent  to  Mexico,  the  evil  so  long  dreaded  at  Madrid, 
appeared  imminent ;  and  there  were  no  means  whicli  coiUd  with 
prudence  be  employed  to  arrest  it.  Remonstrances  upon  such 
points,  addressed  to  the  Courts  of  London  and  St.  Petersburgh, 
would  most  probably  be  unavailing,  while  any  attempt  to  enforce 
the  exclusive  regulations  upon  tlic  coasts  might  ii.  >  olve  Spain 
in  wars  which  it  was  then  material  to  avoid.  Under  such  cir- 
cumstances, all  that  could  be  done  for  the  time  was  co  watch  tho 
progress  of  the  evil,  in  order  that  tlie  most  proper  measures  might 
be  adopted  for  counteracting  it,  whenever  opportunities  should 
occur. 
17">|.        In  consequence  of  instructions  to  this  effect,  the  Viceroy  of 

March  8.  ]\iexico  despatched  from  San  Bias,  in  the  spring  of  1788,  two 
armed  vessels,  the  Princcsa  and  the  San  Carlos,  under  tlie  com- 
mand of  Estevan  Jose  Martmcz,  who  n-:is  ordered  to  examine  the 
northwest  coasts  of  the  continent,  and  to  procure  as  accurate  in- 
fonuation  as  possible  with  regtird  to  the  views  of  the  Russians 
and  other  foreigners  in  that  quarter.  These  vessels  sailed  direct 
for  Prince  William's  Sound,  where  they  arrived  in  the  latter  part 

May  -25.  of  May,  and  were  received  with  civility  by  the  superintendents  of 
the  Russian  Trading  Company's  establishments.  The  summer 
was  passed  by  Martinez  in  visiting  the  different  factories  and  forts 
of  that  association  on  the  contment,  and  islands  between  the 
sound  and  Unalashka;  and  the  crews  of  his  vessels  beginning  in 

Dec.  5.  suffer  from  scurvy  as  the  cold  season  approached,  he  returned,  by 
way  of  Monterey,  to  San  Bias,  without  having  seen  any  other 
parts  of  the  northwest  coast. 

According  to  the  report*  addressed  to  the  Viceroy  of  Mexico 


•  Of  this  report,  Humboldt  says:  "1  found  in  the  archives  of  the  Viceroyalty  df 
Mexico  a  large  volume  in  folio,  bearing  the  title  of  licconocimiento  ile  los  qualro 
Estabkcimicntos  liufos  al  nortc  dc  It,  California,  kcchn  en  1788.  The  hisiorical  ac- 
count of  the  voyage  of  Martinez  contained  in  this  manuscript  furnishes,  howevfr, 
very  few  data  relative  to  the  Russian  colonies  in  the  new  contment.  As  no  person 
among  his  crew  understood  a  word  of  the  Russian  language,  thty  could  only  com- 
municate with  the  people  of  that  nation  by  signs." 


by  Marti nc 
number,  a 
and  their ] 
to  four  huj 
liad  not  at 
about  to  bi 
Sound  in  1 
this  accoui 
loff  and  D 
that  year. 

Upon  re 
sians  with 
anticipate  i 
tlie  place  f 
tinez  to  si 
and  to  occ 
Majesty's 
should  pre 
vility  and 
time  to  be 
over  the  t 
San  Bias  i 
May  foUov 

The  rep 
Russians  a 
his  Goven 
a  memoria 
luonstratiii 
territories 
this  memo 
Uracn  the.  ( 
m/misnioii 
Power  to 
The  Emp 
given  to 
to  other  n: 
to  Span  is 
Uie  encro 
which  wu 
ter  profess 
could  not 
so  distant 
allow  any 
ish  Ameri 

While 
Courts  of 


*  For  I  hi 
the  Voyage 
work. 

t  See  the  i 
the  13ihof  J 


97 


njs  of  Ihe  fiirtra- 
nd  Ham  in  1788- 
uiiili — Voyages  ui 
■ssi.'ls  at  ihnt  place 
Spain  ended  by  a 
'acific  and  the  pus- 


1  Pacific  wore 
yr  the  Spanish 
n  the  coasts  of 
ded  at  Madrid, 
ich  could  with 
?es  upon  such 
t.  Petersburgh, 
!mpt  to  enforce 
ii.^olve  Spain 
ihIct  such  cir- 
IS  CO  watch  the 
leasuros  might 
tunities  should 

the  Viceroy  of 
g  of  1788,  two 
inder  the  coin- 
to  examine  the 
as  accurate  in- 
f  the  Russians 
Is  sailed  direct 
1  the  latter  part 
crintendents  of 

The  summer 
tories  and  forts 
s  between  the 
s  beginning  to 
lie  returned,  by 
seen  any  other 

;roy  of  Mexico 


the  Vireroyally  nf 
liento  tie  los  quatro 
The  hisiorical  ac- 
urnishes,  howevfr, 
ent.  As  no  person 
ey  could  only  corn- 


by  Martinez,  the  Russian  establishmouts  in  America  were  four  in 
iiuinber,  all  of  them  situated  west  of  Prince  Williain's  Sound ; 
aiiil  their  iK)pulation,  including  soldiers  and  hunters,  aiuounied 
to  four  hundred.  Reyond  (that  is,  e: is t ward  of  the  soinul)  they 
had  not  advanced;  but  it  was  understood  that  a  large  ll»rce  was 
about  to  be  sent  from  Asia,  fyr  the  purijose  of  occupying  Nooika 
Sound  in  the  name  of  the  Flmpress  of  Russia.  The  hitter  part  nf 
this  account  doubtless  bore  reference  to  tlie  expedition  of  Ismy- 
loff  and  BetscharefT,  wiiich  was  coumienccd  iu  the  summer  of 
that  year. 

U|)on  receiving  this  information  of  the  intentions  of  the  Rus- 
sians with  regard  to  Nootka,  the  Viceroy  of  Mexico  determined  to 
anticipate  them,  if  possible,  by  immediately  taking  possession  of 
tlie  place  for  his  own  Sovereign.  With  this  view  he  ordered  Mar- 
tinez to  sail  thither,  with  Ins  vessels  well  armed  and  manned, 
and  to  occupy  and  defend  the  sound  as  a  part  of  his  Catholic 
Majesty's  dominions ;  in  case  any  British  or  Russian  vessels 
should  present  themselves  there,  thty  were  to  be  treated  with  ci- 
vility and  friendship,  but  their  commanders  were  at  the  same 
time  to  be  informed  of  the  establishment  of  the  Spanish  authority 
over  the  territory.*  With  tliese  instructions,  Martinez  quitted 
San  Bias  in  February,  1789,  and  arrived  at  Nootka  on  the  6th  of 
May  following. 

Tlie  report  concerning  the  projected  seizure  of  Nootka  by  the 
Russians  Avas  at  the  same  time  communicated  by  the  Viceroy  to 
his  Government,  and  it  was  thereupon  determined  at  Madrid  that 
a  momorialt  should  be  addressed  to  the  Empress  of  Russia,  re- 
monstrating against  the  encroachments  of  her  subjects  upon  the 
territories  of  his  Catholic  Majesty.  It  is  to  be  remarked,  that  in 
this  memorial  Prince  Williani's  Siound  is  assmnid  as  the  limit  be- 
tween the  dominions  of  the  tiro  Snverei<rns;  the  first  instance  of  an 
a(()nission  by  the  Spanish  Government  of  the  right  of  any  other 
Power  to  occupy  a  part  of  America  bordering  upon  the  Pacific. 
The  Empress  of  Russia  answered,  that  orders  had  been  already 
given  to  her  subjects  to  make  no  settlements  in  places  belonging 
to  other  nations,  and  if  those  orders  had  been  violated  with  regard 
to  Spanish  America,  she  hoped  his  Catholic  Mfuesty  would  arrest 
the  encroachments  in  a  friendly  manner.  With  this  answer, 
which  was  more  courteous  than  specific,  the  Spanish  minis- 
ter professed  himself  content;  observing,  however,  that  "Spain 
could  not  be  responsible  f()r  what  her  oflicers  might  do  at  places 
so  distant,  wliile  they  were  acting  under  general  orders  not  to 
allow  any  settlements  to  be  made  by  other  nations  on  the  Span- 
ish American  continent." 

While  this  diplomatic  correspondence  was  passing  between  the 
Courts  of  Madrid  and  St.  Petersburgh,  events  were  occurring  on 


*  For  \hv  instruclions  siven  lo  \lartille^,  sue  liic  Introijiifliori  to  the  Narraiive  of 
Ihe  Voyage  of  ihe  Siiiil  and  Mexiean<t,  which  may  be  considered  as  an  olhcial 
W(iri<. 

t  See  the  memorial  addressed  by  the  Court  of  Spain  to  that  of  Great  Britain  on 
the  13ih  of  June,  1790,  iu  ilie  London  Annual  Register  for  that  year,  page  294, 


:8H. 


1789, 


M.iy, 


i 


'ii  I, 


I'l   I 


98 


K 


m 


!'S 


IW!'  the  nortfiwost  coast  of  Anicrira,  from  which  the  most  matorial 
coiisoquoiires  resulted.  These  events  have  boon  variously  rep. 
resented,  or  rather  misrepresented,  by  the  historians*  to  whom  wo 
usually  look  for  information  respecting  them.  It  may,  indeed,  bo 
asserted,  without  fear  of  disproof,  that  in  all  the  accounts  hitherto 
pnblished  of  the  innnediatc  fauseiS  of  the  controversy  between 
(Jroat  Hritain  and  ypain  in  171)0,  relative  to  the  navigation  of  the 
Pacific  and  Southern  Occums,  and  the  unoccupied  portions  of 
America  bordering  upon  those  seas,  the  most  important  circum- 
stances are  exhibited  in  a  fi)rm  and  light  entirely  different  from 
those  wliich  would  be  produced  by  a  full  and  impartial  review  of 
the  evidences. 

With  the  object  of  endeavoring  to  correct  those  errors,  a  narra- 
tive of  the  events  above  mentioned  will  here  be  presented,  drawn 
entirely  from  the  original  sources  of  information.f    Many  of  the 


♦  Viz;  BisseU's  Cdniinmiion  of  Hume  nnd  Stntjili'ti;  Belshnm's  History  ofGrpn! 
Britain  ;  Wade's  ClirnnDJogical  History  nf  Kngland  ;  the  History  ol'Snnin  and  Por- 
lii^ai,by  Liiis|{,  piibii.slied  under  iliu  dirurlioii  ol  the  Society  lur  Die  Dill'usion  of  Vxtt- 
fill  Khowledjjc;  the  liiirodiiciion  to  the  Niirraiive  of  the  Voyage  of  the  ymii  ninl 
Mexicnna;  the  History  of  Mivritime  and  Inland  Advcnmre  and  Disrovery,  form- 
nils'  jiart  of  Lardner'sEneycloprndia-  lUunlon's  Navnl  History  ol  Great  Britniii; 
Gilfird's  Lite  of  William  I'ltt;  Ac.  The  accounts  of  these  British  writei*  have  been 
generally  iuliniiied  and  slated  as  correct  in  ilie  reports  respeciing  the  noith\vi>i 
coast,  presented  by  comniillees  lo  the  Congress  of  the  Unilei!  States;  and  no  ni- 
lempi  seems  to  have  lieen  made  to  controvert  or  (|uestion  ihem  in  ilie  course  of  any 
ncguliatioiis  between  tlie  United  Slates  and  Great  Biitain. 

t  These  sources  of  information  are: 

I.  .Journal  of  Voyajjes  in  the  Pacific  Ocean  in  17S8  and  nSO,  by  John  Mcaros. 

Iti  the  Appendix  to  th-j  Journal  of  Meares  is  the 

H.  Memorial  addressed  to  liie  House  of  Commons  of  Great  Biitain  on  the  13th  di 
May,  17!I0,  by  John  Meares,  in  behalf  of  the  owiieis  of  certain  vessels  seized  atNooika 
Sound  in  17H!t  by  the  Spanish  commandant  Mariinez,  praying  that  measures  miyhi 
be  taken  to  obiam  indcmniftcaiion  for  tht)se  losses,  as  also  Ibr  the  seizure  of  certain 
lands  and  iiouses  on  ihc  northwest  coast  of  America,  claimed  by  the  pclilioners  as 
their  property.  An  abstract  of  tliis  memoiinl,  rdnfnlhi  composed  so  as  exclude  all 
circumstances  which  might  weaken  the  claims  of  the  petitioners,  may  he  found  in 
the  Annual  Register  for  17!iO,  pa2;e  •JH7.  The  journal  of  the  voyages  of  Meares  re- 
lates, in  |)art,  to  llie  circumstances  which  form  the  subject  of  the  numnrial;  on  com- 
paring the  two,  it  will  be  found  that  they  are  frccjuently  at  variance. 

HI.  Account  of  Voyages  m  ihe  Pacific,  made  between  1790  nnd  17!>4  by  Captain 
George  Vancouver  of  the  i-iritish  navy,  who  iiad  been  sent  by  his  Government  to 
explore  that  ocean,  and  also  to  suptriiitend  the  delivery  by  the  Spanish  aiilhonties 
(if  certain  territories  at  and  i.car  Numka  Sound,  in  virtue  of  the  treaty  of  Octo- 
ber, 17!tO. 

IV.  Account  of  a  Voyage  in  the  Pacific,  made  in  1793  and  1791  by  Captain  James 
Colneit.  The  only  paiis  of  this  work  relating  to  the  alliiiis  in  question  are  the  In- 
troduction and  a  note  at  pase  90. 

V.  The  Introduction  bv  Navarrete  to  the  iVarrniive  of  he  Voyages  of  Ihe  Span- 
ish Sch(jimer.s  Sutil  and  Mexicana  in  17'Jl-'2;  which  is  here  cited  only  to  show  that 
it  has  been  consulted. 

In  addition  to  die  abovcmentioncd  printed  works,  is  the  follcwing,  as  yet  unptib- 
li.shed: 

VI.  Letter  written  at  Nootka  Sound  in  August,  1792,  by  Joseph  Ingraham,  ma.s- 
ter  of  itie  American  merciiant  brig  Hope,  and  signed  by  himself  and  Robert  Gray, 
m.isierof  the  Ship  Culmnbia,  respecting  the  events  at  Mooika  in  1789,  of  which  one 
or  boliol'  them  were  wiinesses;  it  was  written  in  compliance  with  a  request  from 
Don  Juan  Francisco  de  la  Bodega  y  Gluadra,  the  Sjianish  commandant  at  Nootka, 
by  whom  a  copy  of  it  was  delivered  to  Vancouver.  In  the  first  volume  of  the  Nar- 
rative of  Vancouver,  pai,'e  3R9,  mav  be  found  a  synop-is  of  this  letter,  in  which  the 
evidence  of  the  Americans  is  c/irefullii  garbled  to  suit  the  purposes  of  the  British 
commander.  A  copy  of  ihe  letter  in  full,  extracted  from  the  original  Journal  c^f  In- 
graham, is  given  in  tiio  appendix  [  fJ]  to  this  mciitoir. 


details  ma] 
lieved,  ho\ 
iiidispensa 
rircumstar 
led  to  difl« 
by  some  ( 
order  that 
.stances. 

In  the  fi 
is/t  rnnuHf 
farlori/,  or 
hrun/oiuifl 
rismby  tin 
of  Ainvrirn 
(tttd  Print 
Russians, 
coasts,  wh 
monumenl 
to  the  sun 
generally 
rights  to  t 
any  portio 
erty  of  a  fi 
di(l  in  m) 
oral  pieces 
which  wei 
ish  subjer 
forces  of  h 
foniiiilly  II 
rehitcd  in 
entirely  d( 

The  rig 
the  King 
his  preten 
upon  the  c 
said,  a  shr 
ther  New 
tablishinei 
iards  were 
far  north  a 
small  }X)rti 
has  been  i 
the  Portuj 
that  Spain 
tioiis  from 
not,  wouli 
to  deny  tl 
other  natii 
from  thoii 
is  unnecei 
ri^/it  inig 
cause  of c 


i    > 


most  inatorinl 
vuriously  r«'p. 
•  to  whom  wo. 
my,  indeed,  bo 
omits  hitherto 
vcrsy  between 
vigatiou  of  the 
ed  portions  of 
ortnnt  circuni- 
ditreront  from 
irtial  review  of 

jrrors,  a  narra- 

isented,  drawn 

Many  of  the 


s  History  of  Greni 
of  Spnin  and  Pur- 

5  Dlll'usioll  of  {]>>:• 

c  of  lilt.'  Siitil  niiil 
I  Disrovory,  forni- 
ol  Qicnt  Brim  111; 
wrileu  hove  bttn 
ing  the  noiihwoi 
Jmies;  nml  nt.  ni- 
I  ilie  course  of  any 


,  by  John  Mcnros, 

tain  on  ilic  13ili  ni 
Issei/i'd  at  NooiKa 
u  niensnrcs  niivhi 
'  seizure  of  certnin 
f  ihe  peiiiioneris  as 
il  so  ns  excluile  all 
S  may  hn  found  in 
i^es  i'f  Meares  re- 
ui  morial ;  on  com- 
ce. 

(I  n!)4  hy  Captain 
lis  Government  to 
ipanisli  auihorities 
le  treaty  of  Octo- 

by  Captain  James 
<estioii  are  the  In- 

ages  of  ihe  Span- 
I  only  to  show  that 

insr,  as  yet  impnb. 

h  Ingraham,  ma.s- 
and  Robert  Gray, 
1*8!),  of  whirh  oi'ie 
til  a  request  from 
andant  at  Nootka, 
olume  of  the  Nar- 
jttcr,  in  whirh  the 
ises  of  the  Bntisli 
inal  Journal  cf  In< 


99 

details  may  at  first  appear  trifliiit?  and  unworthy  of  note  ;  it  is  he- 
lit'ved,  howev<>r,  that  nniu!  have  heen  introthiccid  wliii-h  are  not 
iii(li.spensnl)l(.'  fi>r  tlie  attjiinnient  of  tlie  end  propo.sed,  wliile  no 
rirfumstances  luivo  been  omitted  whieh  might,  if  rehitcd,  have 
led  to  different  conrhisions.  This  narrative  nuist  be  preceded 
by  some  observations  and  statements,  whioli  are  necessary  in 
order  that  proper  judgments  may  be  formed  upon  the  oirrum- 
stances. 

In  the  first  plane,  it  is  certain  that,  hvj'nrt'  the  arrlrnl  nf  tin  Spun- 
ish  rnfumntiffer  Mnrtiiifz  at  Snot  hi  ^  in  May,  1789,  un  sitf/c/iii-nl, 
fiirton/,  or  co/mncrrinl  n  ■  ntUitnrij  cstahfis/i/nr/it  vlintsiwcrr,  hmt 
hrett  finiiHhd or  evi'n  nil  mptrd;  oiifl no Jurisrfirtinn  limlhrQn  exer- 
rismby  tlie  suhjccts  or  mUhorltus  of  any  vivUizcd  nation  in  any  part 
of  Anicrira  borderinif  upon  the  I*aci/ic,  Intirein  Port  San  Frani'ism 
nnil  Prince  Wi//ia/ii\s'  Sovml.  The  Spaniards,  tlie  British,  the 
Russians,  and  the  French  had  landed  at  various  places  on  these 
coasts,  where  they  had  displayed  fli.<2;s  and  erected  crosses  and 
monuments  in  token  of  the  claims  of  their  respective  sovereigns 
to  the  surrounding  territories  ;  but  such  acts  arc,  and  were  then, 
generally  regarded  as  idle  ceremonies,  securing  no  effectual 
rights  to  those  who  engaged  in  them.  Nor  does  it  appear  that 
any  portion  of  the  soil  within  these  limits  had  become  the  prop- 
erty of  a  fiircigner,  notwithstanding  that  the  Uritish  Government 
did  in  1790  demand,  and  Spain  engaged  by  treaty  to  restore,  sev- 
eral pieces  of  land  and  buildinjjs  in  the  vicmity  of  Nootka  Scmnd, 
which  were  claimed  as  belonging  to  John  Mearcs  and  other  Brit- 
ish subjects  at  the  time  of  the  occupation  of  that  place  by  the 
forces  of  his  Catholic  Majesty.  Although  this  demand  was  thus 
ftinnally  urged  and  admitted,  many  circumstances,  which  will  be 
reliited  in  the  secjuel,  combine  to  prove  conclusively  that  it  was 
entirely  destitute  of  foundation. 

The  right  of  sovereignty  over  this  vast  region  was  claimed  by 
the  King  of  Spain,  and  no  other  Power  had  formally  contested 
his  pretensions,  notwithstanding  the  Russians  were  advancing 
upon  the  continent  in  the  north,  and  the  British  ministry  had,  it  is 
said,  a  short  time  jjreviously  deliberated  upon  the  question  whe- 
ther New  Albion  or  New  Holland  should  be  selected  for  the  es- 
tablishment of  their  contemplated  penal  colony.  That  the  Span- 
iards were  the  first  discoverers  of  the  west  coasts  of  America  as 
far  north  as  the  58th  degree  of  latitude,  with  the  exception  of  the 
small  |X)rtion  near  the  5Gth  parallel  seen  by  the  Russians  in  1741, 
has  been  already  demonstrated  ;  the  fact  is  as  indisputable  as  that 
the  Portuguese  discovered  the  south  coasts  of  Africa.  To  assume 
that  Spain  thereby  acquired  the  right  of  excluding  all  other  na- 
tions from  these  coasts,  whether  her  subjects  settled  on  them  or 
not,  would  be  absurd  -,  but  it  would,  at  the  same  time,  be  unjust 
to  deny  that  her  title  to  occupy  them  was  better  than  that  of  any 
other  nation,  not  only  in  virtue  of  priority  of  discovery,  but  also 
from  their  continuity  with  her  own  undoubted  possessions.  It 
is  unnecessary  to  indicate  the  various  modes  in  which  this  better 
ri^ht  might  have  been  exercised  by  Spain  without  giving  just 
cause  of  complaint  to  other  |?fjk\vers ;  the  object  of  these  obsorva- 


LO'Vers) 


('  b:sjjot:;eca 


ITHO 


11' 


i;' 


n 


i  ■■  'i 

i     1     , 

';  i  j 

'    '     it     , 

I'!    i     1 

iiLJ 

Mi 


t,i 


m   i 


1789. 


Jan.  1. 


100 

tioiis  being  merely  to  sliow  that  her  occupation  of  Nootka  in  17S9 
Avas,  jjir  se,  conformable  with  justice,  and  with  the  rccognisixl 
principles  of  national  law. 

In  order  to  present  a  satisfactory  view  of  the  events  attending 
that  occupation,  the  account  must  commence  from  the  month  of 
January,  1788,  when  two  vessels,  the  Felice  and  the  Iphigeii'ui^ 
sailed  from  Macao,*  for  the  northwest  coast  of  America,  to  be  em- 
ployed in  the  fur  trade,  vuider  the  direction  of  John  Meares,  a  lieu- 
tenant in  the  British  navy ,  then  on  half- pay ,  who  Avent  in  the  Felice. 
The  Iphigenia  also  carried  a  British  subject,  William  Douglas,  as 
supercargo ;  both  vessels,  however,  were  conunanded  by  Portu- 
guese, they  were  both  furnished  with  Portuguese  passports  and 
other  papers,  showing  them  to  be  the  property  of  Juan  Cavallo,  u 
Portuguese  merchant  of  Macao,  and  they  quitted  that  place  under 
the  flag  of  Portugal.  The  instructionsf  for  the  conduct  of  the 
voyage  were  written  in  the  Portuguese  language,  and  contained 
nothing  whatsoever  calculated  to  afford  a  suspicion  that  any  other 
than  Portuguese  subjects  were  engaged  in  the  enterprise.  These 
instructions  conclude  with  the  following  injunction  to  the  com- 
manders of  the  vessels :  "  Should  you  meet  with  any  Russian, 
English,  or  Spanish  vesr'ls,  you  will  treat  them  with  civility, 
and  allow  them,  if  they  are  authorized,  to  examine  your  papers; 
should  they,  however,  attempt  to  seize  you,  or  to  carry  you  out  ol' 
your  way,  you  will  prevent  it  by  every  means  in  your  power,  and 
repel  force  by  force.  In  case  you  should  in  such  conflict  have 
the  superiority,  you  will  take  possession  of  the  vessel  that  at- 
tacked you,  as  also  of  her  cargo,  and  bring  both,  with  the  officers 
and  crew,  to  China,  that  they  may  be  condemned  as  legal  prizes, 
and  the  crew  punished  as  pirates." 

Notwithstanding  all  these  evidences  of  ownership  and  national 
character,  it  is  asserted  by  Mr.  Meares,  in  the  memorial  addressed 
by  him  to  the  British  Government  in  1790,  that  the  Felice  and 
the  Iphigenia  were  actually  and  bona  Jide  British  property,  em- 
ployed in  the  service  of  British  subjects  only ;  that  Cavallo  had 
no  concern  or  interest  in  them,  his  name  being  merely  used  for 
the  purpose  of  obtaining  permission  from  the  Governor  of  Macao 
to  navigate  under  the  Portuguese  flag,  and  thus  to  evade  the  ex- 
cessive port  charges  demanded  by  the  Chinese  from  all  other  Eu- 
ropean nations ;  and  that  Messrs.  Meares  and  Douglas  were  real- 
ly the  commanders  of  the  vessels,  instead  of  the  two  Portuguese 
who  appeared  as  such  in  their  papers.  These  assertions  may 
have  been,  at  least  in  part,  true ;  but  the  documents  attached  by 
Meares  to  his  memorial  amply  prove  that  the  deception  was  con- 
tinued at  Nootka,  where  there  were  no  Chinese  authorities,  al- 
though no  hint  is  given,  in  his  account  of  the  voyages  of  the  ves- 


•  Macao  is  situated  on  the  sonthern  extremity  of  an  island  near  the  mouth  of  the 
River  Tvgris  in  Chma,  about  sixty  miles  below  Canton.  It  was  granted  to  the  Por- 
tuj,'ue>e  by  the  Emperor  of  China  in  1518,  and  has  ever  since  remained  in  iheir  pos- 
session, although  the  Chinese  Government  exercises  considerable  control  over  all 
their  proceeding.^. 

t  Appendix,  Noi  1,  to  Meares's  Account  of  his  Voyage  to  the  Pacitic. 


sels,  that  i 
British, 
tween  the 

The  tru 
were  actui 
the  perso] 
have  been 
fered  pecu 
sides  the 
British  ve 
able  to  CO 
Company, 
South  Sei 
manders  o 
cao  for  tri? 
them  in  tl 
George's  * 
cific,  with 
on  the  nc 
structions 
precise  ar 
the  acquis 

From  I 
Meares  in 
tered  on  tl 
a  small  ve 
ress  of  th 
rangemen 
Journal  o 
grant  us 
might  be 
to  leave  b 
tion  for  th 
our  absen 
tinuance  ( 
he  had  re| 
Upon  thi 
party  inte 
breastwor 
area  of  gi 
a  manner 
a  fortifica 

That 
to  be  occ 
clear  fron 
no/  of  his 
sion  of  it 
expressly 
attachmei 
he  shoulc 
thereunto 
he  declari 


)otka  in  1TS9 
e  rccognisiid 

11  ts  attending 

[he  month  of 

le  fyhiffoiiu, 

ca,  to  be  eni- 

leares,  a  Hcu- 

in  the  FeUce. 

I  Douglas,  as 

ed  by  Portu- 

passports  and 

an  Cavallo,  u 

t  place  under 

)nduct  of  the 

nd  contained 

hat  any  other 

prise.   These 

to  the  coni- 

any  Russian, 

with  civility, 

your  papers ; 

rry  you  out  oi 

ur  power,  and 

conflict  have 

cssel  that  at- 

th  the  officers 

s  legal  prizes, 

3  and  national 
rial  addressed 
le  Felice  and 
property,  em- 
it Cavallo  had 
erely  used  for 
rnor  of  Macao 
evade  the  ex- 
i  all  other  Eu- 
jlas  were  real- 
w  Portuguese 
ssertions  may 
s  attached  by 
)tion  was  con- 
mthorities,  al- 
ges  of  the  ves- 


'  the  mouth  of  the 
;ranled  to  the  Por- 
ained  in  their  pus- 
le  control  over  all 

aciiic. 


lOi 

sels,  that  either  of  them  was,  or  ever  appeared  to  be,  other  than    1788. 
British.    Greater  discrepancies,  positive  as  well  as  negative,  be- 
tween the  journal  and  the  memorial,  remain  to  be  noticed. 

The  truth  with  regard  to  the  vessels  probably  was,  that  they 
were  actually  and  botmfide  Portuguese  property,  though  some  of 
the  persons  in  whose  service  they  were  then  employed  might 
have  been  British  subjects.  The  Portuguese  flag  at  that  time  of- 
fered peculiar  advantages  for  the  prosecution  of  the  fur  trade,  be- 
sides the  freedom  from  the  port  charges  of  the  Chinese ;  for  no 
British  vessel  could  engage  in  the  business  without  becoming  li- 
able to  confiscation,  except  those  of  the  King  George's  Sound 
Company,  which  had  obtained  a  privilege  to  that  effect  from  the 
South  Sea  Corm)any  of  London.  The  instructions  to  the  com- 
manders of  the  Felice  and  the  Iphigenia,  to  seize  and  bring  to  Ma- 
cao for  trial  any  English  vessels  which  might  attempt  to  interrupt 
them  in  their  voyage,  were  doubtless  levelled  at  those  of  the  King 
George's  Sound  Company,  which  were  then  expected  in  the  Pa- 
cific, with  orders  and  materials  for  establishing  forts  and  factories 
on  the  northwest  coast  of  America.  With  regard  to  these  in- 
structions it  should  be  added,  that,  although  they  are  remarkably 
precise  and  minute,  no  allusion  whatsoever  is  made  in  them  to 
the  acquisition  of  land  or  the  erection  of  buildings  in  America. 

From  Macao  the  Iphigenia  sailed  for  Cook's  River,  while 
Meares  in  the  Felice  proceeded  to  Nootka  Sound,  which  he  en- 
tered on  the  13th  of  May.  There  he  immediately  began  to  build  May  13. 
a  small  vessel  for  coasting,  and,  being  desirous  during  the  prog- 
ress of  this  work  to  take  a  trip  to  the  southward,  he  made  ar- 
rangements with  King  Maquinna,  who,  as  related  in  Mr.  Meares's 
Journal  of  the  Voyage,  page  114,  "most  readily  consented  to 
grant  us  a  spot  of  ground  in  his  territory,  whereon  an  house 
might  be  built  for  the  accommodation  of  the  people  we  intended 
to  leave  behind,  and  also  promised  us  his  assistance  and  protec- 
tion for  the  party  who  were  destined  to  remain  at  Nootka  during 
our  absence.  In  return  for  this  kindness,  and  to  insure  the  con- 
tinuance of  it,  the  chief  was  presented  with  a  pair  of  pistols,  which 
he  had  regarded  with  an  eye  of  solicitation  ever  since  our  arrival. 
Upon  this  spot  a  house  sufficiently  spacious  to  contain  all  the 
party  intended  to  be  left  at  the  Sound  was  erected;  a  strong 
breastwork  was  thrown  up  around  it,  enclosing  a  considerable 
area  of  ground,  which,  with  one  piece  of  cannon  placed  in  such 
a  manner  as  to  command  the  cove  and  village  of  Nootka,  formed 
a  fortification  sufficient  to  secure  the  party  from  any  intrusion." 

That  this  spot  of  ground  was  granted  by  Maquinna,  and  was 
to  be  occupied  by  the  strangers  only  for  temporary  purposes,  is 
clear  from  the  above  statement,  and  Meares  nowhere  in  the  jour- 
nal, of  his  voyage  pretends  that  he  acquired  permanent  posses- 
sion of  it,  or  of  any  other  land  in  America ;  on  the  contrary,  he 
expressly  states,  page  130,  "that, as  a  bribe  to  secure  Maquinna's 
attachment,  he  was  promised  that  when  we  finally  left  the  coast 
he  should  enter  into  fiill  possession  of  the  house  and  all  the  goods 
thereunto  belonging."  In  his  memorial  to  Parliament,  however, 
he  declares  that  "  immediately  on  his  arrival  at  Nootka  Sound,  he 
8 


■|!       ,: 


10<2 


ph> 


i'/S8.  purclmsed  from  Maquilla,  the  chief  of  the  district  contiguous  to 
^^y*  and  surrounding  that  place,  a  spot  of  ground  Avhereon  he  built  a 
house  for  iiis  occasional  residence,  as  well  as  for  the  more  conve- 
nient pursuit  of  his  trade  with  the  natives,  and  hoisted  British 
colors  thereon."  Among  the  documents  attached  to  the  memo- 
rial, no  mention  is  made  of  this  purchase,  except  in  the  informa- 
tion of  William  Graham,  a  seaman  of  the  Felice,  taken  in  London 
after  the  date  of  the  memorial^  who  declares  that  "  he  saw  Mr. 
Meares  deliver  some  articles  of  merchandise  to  Maquilla,  the 
sovereign  Prince  of  the  aaid  sound,  which  he  then  understood 
and  believed  were  given  as  consideration  for  lands  required  by 
Mr.  Meares  for  an  establishment  on  shore."*  The  British  Gov- 
ernment, as  will  be  seen,  went  still  farther,  and  claimed  the  whole 
territory  surrounding  Nootka  as  included  within  the  terms  of  this 
asserted  purchase. 

Such  is  the  evidence  upon  which  the  British  historians  of  that 
period  insist  that  Meares  purchased  a  large  tract  of  land  at  Noot- 
ka, and  established  on  it  a  factor//  defended  by  a  fort  under  the 
British  Jlag. 

Having  completed  his  arrangements,  Meares  sailed  in  the  Fe- 
lice towards  the  south,  leaving  a  part  of  his  crew  at  Nootka,  to 
which  place  he  did  not  return  until  the  latter  part  of  July.  Du- 
ring this  period  he  endeavored  to  explore  the  Strait  of  Fuca,  and 
to  lind  the  mouth  of  the  great  River  San  Roque,  near  the  46th 
degree  of  latitude,  in  both  of  which  attempts  he  was,  as  before 
related,  unsuccessful.  He  declares  in  his  memorial  that  he  like- 
wise "obtained  from  Wiccanish,  the  chief  of  the  district  surround- 
ing Port  Cox  and  Port  Effingham,  (places  thus  named  by  him- 
self, but  otherwise  known  as  Clyoquot  and  Nittinat,)  situated  in 
the  latitudes  of  48  and  49  degrees,  in  consequence  of  considera- 
ble presents,  the  promise  of  a  free  and  exclusive  trade  with  the 
natives  of  the  district,  as  also  permission  to  build  any  storehouses 
or  other  edifices  which  he  might  judge  necessary ;  and  that  he 
also  acquired  the  same  privileges  of  exclusive  trade  from  Ta- 
tootche,  the  chief  of  the  country  bordering  upon  the  Strait  of  F\i- 
ca,  and  purchased  from  him  a  tract  of  land  within  the  said  strait, 
which  one  of  his  officers  took  possession  of  in  the  King's  name, 
calling  the  same  Tatootche,  in  honor  of  the  chief" 

Of  these  purchases  and  cessions  of  territory  there  is  no  other 
evidence  than  the  declaration  of  Mr.  Meares  in  his  memorial  ;\  for 


♦  The  only  statement  besides  this  declaration,  tending  to  confirm  the  assertion  i.l 
Meares  in  his  memorial,  is  that  (hereafter  noticed)  made  to  Vancouver  in  171)-  at 
Nootka,  by  Robert  Dutlin,  who  had  also  been  one  of  the  crew  of  the  Felice  in  1788. 
He  is  represented  by  Vancouver  (vol.  i,  page  405)  as  declaring  that  he  wiinessid 
the  purchase  by  Meares  "of  the  whole  of  the  land  which  forms  Friendly  Cove, 
Nooika  Sound,  in  his  Britannic  Majesty's  name,  for  eight  sheets  of  copper  and  some 
trifles." 

+  It  is  probable,  from  the  numerous  discrepancies  between  Meares's  Journal  of 
his  Voyage  and  his  memorial,  that  the  former  was  written  and  printed  before  the 
latter  was  drawn  up.  We  may  also  suspect,  from  the  silence  of  all  the  documents 
brought  to  London  with  regard  to  the  purchases  of  lands  on  the  northwest  coast, 
that  the  idea  of  setting  up  this  claim  suggested  itself,  or  was  suggested,  to  Meares 
after  bis  arrival  iu  Eaglandf.  .  .i.^..,..  . 


xhey  are  i 
mo  rial,  or 
as  to  this 
his  own  IS 
ted  by  th 

After  X\ 
ton,  Capt 
which  hai 
was  conif 
the  Iphig 
As  a  mini 
the  sumn 
in  the  Ip 
which  he 
tember. 
bia,  Capt! 
and  Nortl 
ing  the  t\ 

Meares 
soon  after 
Wales,  be 
at  that  pi 
the  Britis 
agent  of  I 
the  Felic( 
the  intere 
the  Felic( 
ther  with 
the  assoc 
of  Colnet 
have  bee 
have  acte 
failure  wj 
pany. 

The  m 
pears  to 
the  instrt 
a  copy  is 
there  wa 
ment  on 
no  spot  is 
quisition 
Sound; 
per,  is  CO 
to  form  a 
Yet  Meai 
nett  was 
that  view 
memorial 
by  a  copy 

While 
Nootka, 


1 


II 

v..  A 


DllllgUOUS    to 

on  he  built  a 
more  conve- 
isted  British 
:o  the  memo- 

the  informa- 
?n  in  London 
'  he  saw  Mr. 
klaquilla,  the 
ti  understood 
I  required  by 

British  Gov- 
led  the  whole 

terms  of  this 

orians  of  that 
land  at  Noot- 
'ort  under  the 

ed  in  the  Fe- 
at Nootlta,  to 
f  July.  Du- 
,  of  Fuca,  and 
near  the  46th 
vas,  as  before 
1  that  he  like- 
rict  surround- 
mied  by  him- 
,t,)  situated  in 
of  considera- 
rade  with  the 
ly  storehouses 
-,  and  that  he 
ade  from  Ta- 
j  Strait  of  F\i- 
the  said  strait, 
King's  name, 

ire  is  no  other 
neniorial  ;'\  for 


•m  the  asserlion  dl 
icouver  in  171)-  at 
the  Felice  in  1788. 
that  he  wilnesMd 
ns  Fneiully  Cove, 
1' copper  and  some 

eares's  Journal  of 
printed  before  the 
all  the  documents 
e  northwest  coast, 
jgested,  to  Meares 


103 


1799. 


they  are  not  noticed  either  in  the  documents  attached  to  that  me- 
morial, or  in  the  Journal  of  his  Voyage,  which  is  tediously  minute 
as  to  this  trip,  or  any  where  else ;  yet  his  claim,  based  solely  upon 
his  own  statement,  was  supported  by  his  Government  and  admit- 
teii  by  that  of  Spain. 

After  the  return  of  Meares  to  Nootka  Sound,  the  sloop  Washing-  Spct.  17. 
ton.  Captain  Gray,  arrived  there  from  Boston ;  the  small  vessel 
which  had  been  commenced  by  the  crew  of  the  Felice  in  the  spring 
was  completed,  and  received  the  name  oi Northwest  America;  and 
the  Iphigenia  came  in  from  the  northern  coasts  laden  with  furs.  Sef  i.  21. 
As  a  number  of  skins  had  also  been  obtained  by  the  Felice  during 
the  summer,  Meares  determined  to  transfer  to  that  vessel  all  those 
in  the  Iphigenia,  and  to  sail  with  them  immediately  for  Macao ; 
which  he  accordingly  did,  leaving  the  sound  on  the  28th  of  Sep-  Sept.  28. 
tember.     In  the  course  of  the  following  month  the  Ship  Colum-  Oct. 
bia.  Captain  Keudrick,  arrived  from  Boston,  and  the  Iphigenia 
and  Northwest  America  departed  for  the  Sandwich  Islands,  leav- 
ing the  two  American  vessels  to  winter  at  Nootka. 

Meares  reached  Macao  in  the  Felice  early  in  December,  and  Dec. 
soon  afterwards  two  vessels,  the  Princess  Royal  and  the  Prince  of 
Wales,  belonging  to  the  King  George's  Sound  Company,  arrived 
at  that  place  under  the  command  of  James  Colnett,  an  officer  of 
the  British  navy  on  half  pay.  In  the  latter  vessels  also  came  an 
agent  of  the  said  company,  between  whom  and  the  proprietors  of 
the  Felice  and  Iphigenia  an  anangement  was  made  for  uniting 
the  interests  of  both  parties.  In  consequence  of  this  arrangement, 
the  Felice  was  sold  or  dismissed,  and  the  Princess  Royal,  toge-  l*.S;). 
ther  with  a  ship  called  the  Argonaut,  bought  for  the  purpose  by 
tlie  association,  were  despatched  to  Ntxttka,  under  the  direction 
of  Colnett,  who  sailed  in  the  Argonaut.  These  vessels  appear  to  April, 
have  been  navigated  under  the  British  flag ;  Cavallo  could  not 
have  acted  as  their  owner,  for  he  had  become  a  bankrupt,  and  his 
failure  was  probably  the  cause  of  the  formation  of  the  new  com- 
pany. 

The  management  of  the  affairs  of  the  association  at  Macao  ap- 
pears to  have  been  committed  entirely  to  Meares,  who  drew  up 
the  instructions  for  Colnett.  From  these  instructions,  of  which 
a  copy  is  appended  by  Meares  to  his  memorial,  it  is  evident  that 
there  was  really  an  intention  to  found  a  permanent  establish- 
ment on  some  part  of  the  northwest  coast  of  America,  although 
no  spot  is  designated  as  its  site,  and  no  hint  is  given  of  any  ac- 
quisition of  territory  having  been  already  made  at  or  near  Nootka 
Sound;  indeed,  the  only  reference  to  that  place,  in  the  whole  pa- 
per, is  contained  in  the  words  "  we  recommend  you,  if  possible, 
to  form  a  treaty  with  the  various  chiefs,  particularly  at  Nootka." 
Yet  Meares,  in  his  memorial,  strangely  enough  says:  "Mr.  Col- 
nett was  directed  to  fix  his  residence  at  Nootka  Sound,  and,  with 
that  view,  to  erect  a  substantial  house  on  the  spot  which  your 
memorialist  had  purchased  in  the  preceding  year,  as  will  appear 
by  a  copy  of  his  instructiorts  hereunto  annexed. ^^ 

While  the  Argonaut  and  Princess  Royal  were  on  their  way  to 
Nootka,  the  Iphigenia  and  Northwest  America  returned  to  that  ABiildO. 


1 

n 

iffi 

\ 

\%\ 

iV  • 


fiH 


'  ii 


p't; 


^'  J 


104 


Hf 


ji 


h 


Ml 


1789.    place  from  the  Sandwich  Islands  in  a  most  distressed  condition, 
April  90.  The  Iphigenifi  was,  indeed,  a  mere  wreck.    Her  supercargo,  or 
captain,  Douglas,  declares  in  his  journal,  attached  to  the  memo- 
rial, that  "she  had  like  to  have  foundered  at  sea  for  Avant  of  pitch 
and  tar  to  stop  the  leaks ;  she  had  no  hread  on  board,  and  noth- 
ing for  her  crew  to  live  on  but  salt  pork ;  she  was  without  cables," 
and,  on  attempting  to  secure  her  in  the  sound,  "  every  rope  gave 
way,  so  that  we  were  obliged  to  borrow  a  fall  from  the  American 
sloop  Washington,"  which  with  the  ship  Columbia  were  found 
lying  there.     The  Washington  had  already  made  a  cruise  to  the 
southward,  in  the  course  of  which  she  advanced  some  distance 
April  -25.  up  the  Strait  of  Fuca ;  a  few  days  after  the  arrival  of  the  other 
vessels,  she  took  her  departure  for  the  north,  and  was  immediate- 
April  28.  ly  followed  by  the  Northwest  America,  which  had  been  hastily 
equipped  and  provided  with  articles  for  trade  on  a  short  voyage. 
The  Columbia  remained  at  Nootka  the  whole  summer,  and  we 
are  indebted  to  her  mate,  Joseph  Ingraham,  for  the  only  account 
of  the  occurrences  at  the  sound,  during  that  period,  proceeding 
from  a  disinterested  witness. 
May  6.        On  the  6th  of  May  Martinez  arrived  at  Nootka  in  the  corvette 
Princesa,  and  immediately  informed  the  officers  of  ♦he  Columbia 
and  Iphigenia  that  he  had  come  to  take  possession  of  the  country 
for  the  King  of  Spain  ;  he  then  examined  the  papers  of  the  two 
vessels,  and,  appearing  to  be  content  with  them,  he  landed  artil- 
lery and  materials,  and  began  to  erect  a  fort  on  a  small  island  at 
the  entrance  of  Friendly  Cove.   With  this  assumption  of  authori- 
ty no  dissatisfaction  was  expressed  or  entertained  by  either  of  the 
other  parties  present ;  on  the  contrary,  the  utmost  good  feeling 
seemed  to  subsist  on  all  sides  for  several  days.     The  officers  of 
the  diffi3rent  vessels  visited  and  dined  with  each  other ;  and  Mar- 
tinez readily  supplied  the  Iphigenia,  at  the  request  of  her  com- 
mander, with  articles  of  which  she  was  in  need,  in  order  that  she 
might  go  to  sea  immediately,  accepting  in  return  for  them  bills 
drawn  upon  Ca^-ullo  of  Macao  as  her  owner. 

It  is  proper  to  remark  here,  that,  on  the  arrival  of  the  Spaniards 
at  Nootka,  no  vestige  remained  of  the  house  built,  or  said  to  have 
been  built,  by  Meares,  or  of  any  other  preparation  for  a  settlement 
near  the  sound.  This  is  expressly  stated  by  Gray  and  Ingraham, 
who,  moreover,  declare  their  conviction  that  no  house  was  ever 
erected  by  Meares  at  Nootka ;  and  it  is  corroborated  by  the  entire 
silence,  on  that  head,  of  Douglas,  Colnett,  and  every  other  per- 
son whose  testimony  is  cited  in  conjunction  with  the  memorial 
to  Parliament. 
May  13.  Things  remained  thus  at  Nootka  for  a  week,  at  the  end  of  which 
time  the  other  Spanish  vessel,  the  San  Carlos,  arrived,  under  the 
May  14.  command  of  Lieutenant  H&ro.  On  the  following  day,  Martinez 
invited  Viana  and  Douglas,  the  chief  officers  of  the  Iphigenia,  to 
come  on  board  the  Princesa,  where  he  immediately  told  them 
that  they  were  prisoners,  and  that  their  vessel  was  to  be  seized ; 
alleging  in  justification  of  his  proceedings  that  their  instructions 
contained  a  clause  directing  them  to  seize  and  carry  to  Macao  any 
English,  Russian,  or  Spanish  vessels  which  they  could  overcome. 


Douglas  i 

and  that, ; 

they  were 

knew  thei 

to  his  resc 

the  Spanij 

pers,  were 

commence 

While  t 

mandant  i 

genia  and 

declaratioi 

had  been  1 

Nootka.  1 

ever,  took 

the  Colun 

signed  by 

were  liberj 

at  the  sam 

car^o  respi 

said  vessel. 

roy  of  Me: 

The  vessel 

iards,  she  i 

seven  hur 

the  natives 

China.    " 

of  the  Voy 

t/iey  mere 

lattvlt-hars 

iiig  the  ski 

notice  of  tl 

plicitly  dec 

wich  Islan 

towards  t 

on  the  oth 

detention 

she  was  en 

would  othi 

for  at  least 

The  sei; 

sidered  as 


♦  R.'ctriicts 
t  "Uuniii 
of  all  the  nuT 
provi.sion.s,  iia 
bars  ofiioii,  v 
Siiiind,  the  \\ 
frmn  lliencc  Iti 
wire  ennliktl 
ctiored  there 
Miares. 


Ml 


condition, 
prcargo,  or 
the  memo- 
nt  of  pitch 

and  noth- 
ut  cables," 

rope  gave 

American 
rare  found 
uise  to  the 
le  distance 

the  other 
mmediate- 
;en  hastily 
irt  voyage, 
er,  and  we 
dy  account 
proceeding 

he  corvette 

Columbia 

he  country 

of  the  two 

inded  artil- 

xll  island  at 

of  authori- 

ither  of  the 

ood  feeling 

e  officers  of 

r  -,  and  Mar- 

af  her  com- 

der  that  she 

r  them  bills 

e  Spaniards 
said  to  have 
a  settlement 
i  Ingraham, 
se  was  ever 
•y  the  entire 
y  other  per- 
le  memorial 

nd  of  which 
i,  under  the 
ly,  Martinez 
[phigenia,  to 
y  told  them 
0  be  seized; 
instructions 
o  Macao  any 
Id  overcome. 


105 

Douglas  insisted  that  the  instmctions  had  been  misinterpreted,  1789. 
and  that,  althougli  he  did  not  understand  Portuguese,*  in  whicli  ^"^  *'*• 
they  were  written,  he  had  seen  a  copy  of  them  at  Macao,  and 
know  their  sense  to  be  otherwise.  Martinez,  however,  adhered 
to  his  resolution ;  the  Iphigenia  was  in  consequence  boarded  by 
the  Spaniards ;  her  men,  with  her  charts,  journals,  and  other  pa- 
pers, were  transferred  to  the  ships  of  war,  and  preparations  were 
commenced  for  sending  her  to  San  Bias. 

While  these  preparations  were  in  progress,  the  Spanish  com- 
mandant altered  his  intentions,  and  proposed  to  release  the  Iphi- 
genia and  her  crew,  on  condition  that  her  officers  would  sign  a 
declaration  to  the  effect  that  she  had  not  been  interrupted,  but 
had  been  kindly  treated  and  supplied  by  him  during  her  stay  at 
Nootka.  This  proposition  was  at  first  refused ;  negotiations,  how- 
ever, took  place,  through  the  medium  of  Captain  Kendrick  of 
the  Columbia,  the  results  of  which  were  that  the  declaration  was 
signed  by  the  officers  of  the  Iphigenia,  and  she  and  her  crew 
were  liberated  on  the  2Gth  of  May.  Messrs.  Viana  and  Douglas,  May  2(1. 
at  the  same  time,  engaged  for  themselves,  as  ^^  captain  and  super- 
cargo respecticely,  and  for  Juan  Cavallo  of  Macao,  as  owner  of  the 
said  vessel,''^  to  pay  her  value,  on  demand,  to  the  order  of  the  Vice- 
roy of  Mexico,  in  case  he  should  pronounce  her  capture  legal. 
The  vessel  having  been  completely  equipped  for  sea  by  the  Span- 
iards, she  sailed  on  the  2d  of  June  for  the  northern  coasts,  where  ^i>ne  2. 
seven  hundred  sea-otter  skins  were  collected,  by  trading  with 
the  natives,  before  her  departure  for  the  Sandwich  Islands  and 
China.  "This  trade  was  so  brisk,"  says  Meares  in  his  Journal 
o{  the  Voyage,  that  "  all  the  stock  (f  iron  was  soon  expended,  and 
they  were  tinder  the  necessity  of  cutting  up  the  chain-plates  anJ 
hatch-bars  of  the  vessel,'"  in  order  to  find  the  means  of  purchas- 
ing the  skins  offered.  In  the  memorial,  however,  not  only  is  all 
notice  of  this  part  of  the  Iphigenia's  voyage  omitted,  but  it  is  im- 
plicitly declaredt  that  she  sailed  directly  from  Nootka  to  the  Sand- 
wich Islands.  Meares  insists  that  the  conduct  of  the  Spaniards 
towards  the  Iphigenia  and  her  men  was  violent  and  rapacious ; 
on  the  other  hand,  Messrs.  Gray  and  Ingraham  declare  that  her 
detention  was  in  every  respect  advantageous  to  the  owners,  as 
she  was  completely  repaired  and  supplied  for  her  voyage,  and  she 
would  otherwise  have  been  obliged  to  remain  inactive  at  Nootka, 
for  at  least  two  months  longer,  during  the  best  season  for  trading. 

The  seizure  of  the  Iphigenia  by  Martinez  can  scarcely  be  con- 
sidered as  unjust  or  unmerited,  when  it  is  recollected  that  if,  ni 


*  Rxiracts  from  the  JoiuiKil  of  Douglas,  aniioxeil  lo  the  ineinorial  of  Meares. 

t  "Utirinsr  the  time  ihe  Spaniards  Utlrl  possessioii  of  ihelphi;,'enin,  she  was  snipped 
of  all  the  iiuTchaiulise  which  had  been  pieiiarod  lor  tiadiiij;,  as  also  of  her  siores, 
provisions,  iiaiilicul  iiistrumenis,  eharts,  &c.,  and  in  short  of  everj'  article, cxccpl  tuxlrc 
i(!r5  «/i/o//.,  which  ihoy  couid  conveiiifiitly  carry  away.  ♦  ♦  ♦  On  leaving  Nootkn 
Sound,  the  lphi;j;enia,  tlinii!<h  in  a  very  nn(i!  condition  for  such  a  voyage,  /iiocccded 
from  lliencclu  the  Siindinick  Idaiidf,  and,  after  ohUiiiunif  there  suck  su])]ilics  as  tliey 
were  eiinldcd  to  procure  with  the  Iron,  before  mcnlioacd,  reinrned  to  China,  and  an- 
chored there  in  the  m'^nth  of  October,  11^9."— Manorial  addressed  to  Parliament  hij 
Ml  a  res. 


:  /.ii" 


,1 


% 


<.   I 


106 


liii 


J^SD.  attempting  to  enforce,  with  regard  to  her,  the  orders  of  his  Gov- 
jHne.  ernnient,  (orders  perfectly  conformable  with  the  principles  of  na- 
tional law,  as  universally  recognised,  and  witli  treaties  between 
Spain  and  all  other  Powers,)  he  had  been  resisted  and  overcome, 
he,  with  his  officers  and  men,  Avould  have  been  carried  as  prison- 
ers to  Macao,  to  be  tried  for  piracy.  Moreover,  he  had  been  in- 
formed that  Meares  was  daily  expected  to  arrive  at  Nootka,  ■with 
other  vessels  belonging  to  the  same  concern ;  and  it  was  his  duty 
to  provide  against  the  possibility  of  being  overpowered,  and  of 
having  his  Hag  insulted,  by  lessening  the  forces  of  those  from 
whom  he  had  every  reason  to  apprehend  an  attack.  Indeed,  the 
oidy  groiuid  upon  which  he  could  have  excused  himself  to  his 
Government  for  releasing  the  Iphigenia  must  have  been,  that  at 
the  time  when  the  instructions  to  her  officers  were  written,  it  was 
not  anticipated  that  Spain  Avould  take  possession  of  any  part  of 
the  northwest  coast  of  America. 
June  a  At  the  end  of  a  week  from  the  departure  of  the  Iphigenia,  the 
Northwest  America  returned  to  Nootka,  and  was  immediately 
.seized  by  Martinez.  On  what  grounds  or  pretexts  this  seizure 
was  based,  there  are  no  means  of  ascertaining.  Gray  and  In- 
graham  understood  that  it  was  in  consequence  of  an  agreement 
between  the  Spanish  commandant  and  the  officers  of  the  Iphige- 
nia ;  this  is,  however,  expressly  denied  by  Douglas,  who  declares 
that  both  threats  and  promises  had  been  used  in  vain  to  induce 
him  to  sell  the  small  vessel  at  a  price  far  below  her  value.  A  few 
days  aitervvards,  the  Princess  Uoyal  (one  of  the  vessels  sent  from 
June  l(i.  Macao  by  the  associated  companies)  arrived  in  the  sound,  under 
the  command  of  William  Hudson,  and  was  received  and  treated, 
during  her  stay,  with  respect  and  attention  by  the  Spaniards.  She 
brought  information  of  the  failure  of  Juan  Cavallo,  the  Portu- 
guese merchant,  upon  whom,  as  owner  of  the  Iphigenia,  the  bills 
given  by  the  commander  of  that  vessel  in  payment  of  the  sup- 
plies were  drawn;  and  upon  learning  this,  Martinez  announced 
his  determination  to  hold  the  Northwest  America,  which  belonged 
to  the  same  concern,  in  satisfaction  for  the  amount  of  those  bills. 
She  was,  in  consequence,  immediately  equipped  for  a  trading- 
voyage,  and  sent  out  under  the  direction  of  one  of  the  mates  of 
the  Columbia;  her  ofucers  and  men  being  set  at  liberty,  and  re- 
ceiving nearly  all  the  furs  found  on  board  of  her  at  the  time  of 
her  capture. 

The  Princess  Royal,  after  remaining  some  days  at  Nootka  un- 
disturbed by  the  Spaniards,  sailed  froui  that  place  on  a  cruise.  As 
she  was  leaving  the  sound,  her  companion,  the  Argonaut,  came 
in  from  Macao  under  the  command  of  Captain  Colnett,  who  had 
been,  as  before  stated,  charged  by  the  associated  companies  with 
the  direction  of  all  their  affairs  on  the  American  coasts,  and  with 
the  establishment  of  a  fort  and  factory  for  their  benefit.  What 
followed  with  regard  to  this  vessel  has  been  variously  repre- 
sented, or  rather  has  been  represented  under  various  colors,  for 
the  principal  facts  are  admitted  by  all  to  have  been  these : 

As  soon  as  the  Argonaut  appeared  at  the  entrance  of  the  sound, 
she  was  boarded  by  the  Spanish  commandant,  who  invited  her 


July  •.>. 


July  1. 


of  his  Gov- 
ciples  of  na- 
;ies  between 
id  overcome, 
sd  as  prison- 
lad  been  in- 
Sootka,  with 
ivas  his  duty 
ered,  and  of 
f  those  from 

Indeed, the 
imself  to  his 
been,  that  at 
ritten,  it  was 
f  any  part  of 

phigenia,  the 
immediately 
this  seizure 
Sray  and  In- 
m  agreement 
)f  the  Iphige- 
who  declares 
ain  to  induce 
^alue.  A  few 
lels  sent  from 
sound,  under 
I  and  treated, 
aniards.  She 
),  the  Portu- 
enia,  the  bills 
it  of  the  sup- 
z  announced 
lich  belonged 
nf  those  bills, 
or  a  trading- 
■  the  mates  of 
berty,  and  re- 
\i  the  time  of 

It  Nootka  un- 
I  a  cruise.  As 
•gonaut,  came 
lett,  who  had 
nipanies  with 
ists,  and  with 
mefit.  What 
riously  rcpre- 
lus  colors,  for 

these : 

of  the  sound, 
10  invited  her 


107 

captain  to  come  into  the  port,  and  supply  the  ships  of  war  with 
some  necessary  articles ;  presenting,  at  the  same  time,  a  letter  from 
Hudson,  in  which  the  good  treatment  of  the  Princess  Royal  and 
her  crew  were  acknowledged  in  flattering  terms;  Barnett,  the 
mate  of  the  Northwest  America,  Ingraham,  the  mate  of  the  Co- 
lumbia, and  some  other  persons,  likewise  came  on  board,  and 
commimicatcd  what  had  occurred  with  regard  to  the  Iphigenia 
and  the  small  vessel.  Colnett,  upon  this,  informed  Martinez  that 
he  had  come  to  take  possession  of  Nootka,  and  to  erect  a  fort 
diere  under  the  British  flag.  The  Spaniard  replied,  that  the 
place  Avas  already  occupied  by  the  forces  of  his  Catholic  Majes- 
ty ;  but  that  if  the  Argonaut  should  enter  the  sound,  she  should 
be  treated  with  civility  and  attention,  and  be  allowed  to  depart 
without  hindrance.  After  some  debate,  the  Englishman  agreed  to 
go  into  the  harbor;  and  before  midnight,  his  vessel  was  anchored 
in  Friendly  Cove  between  the  Princesa  and  the  San  Carlos. 

On  the  following  day,  Colnett,  having  supplied  the  Spanish 
ships  with  some  articles,  announced  his  intention  to  go  to  sea  in 
the  evening ;  whereupon,  Martinez  requested  him  first  to  come 
on  board  the  Princesa  and  exhibit  his  papers.  The  captain  ac- 
cordingly went,  in  uniform  and  with  his  sword,  to  the  cabin  of 
the  commandant,  where  an  altercation  took  place  between  the 
parties ;  the  results  of  which  were,  the  arrest  of  Colnett,  and  the 
seizure  of  the  Argonaut  by  the  Spaniards.  From  the  moment  of 
his  arrest,  Colnett  was  delirious  or  insane,  and  Robert  DufRn, 
the  mate  of  the  Argonaut,  became  in  consequence  the  representa- 
tive of  the  owners  of  that  vessel. 

On  the  13th  of  July  the  Princess  Royal  appeared  at  the  mouth 
of  the  soiuid,  and  her  captain,  Hudson,  having  entered  Friendly 
Cove  in  a  boat,  was  there  arrested  with  his  men;  after  which,  the 
vessel  was  boarded  and  brought  in  as  a  prize  by  the  Spaniards. 
On  the  following  day  the  Argonaut  sailed  for  San  Bias,  carry- 
ing nearly  all  the  British  subjects  taken  at  Nootka  as  prisoners, 
under  the  charge  of  a  Spanish  lieutenant  and  crew.  Those  who 
were  captured  in  the  Northwest  America  were,  however,  em- 
barked as  passengers  in  the  Columbia  for  Macao ;  one  hundred 
of  the  otter  skins  found  in  the  Princess  Royal  being  allowed  by 
Martinez  in  payment  of  their  wages  and  transportation. 

The  Columbia  left  Nootka  in  August ;  soon  afterwards  she 
met  the  Washington,  which  had  just  returned  from  her  voy- 
age up  the  Strait  of  Fuca ;  and  it  was  agreed  between  the  cap- 
tains, that  Gray  should  take  command  of  the  ship,  and  proceed  to 
China  and  the  United  States,  with  all  the  furs  which  had  been 
collected,  while  Kendrick  should  remain  on  the  coast  in  the 
Washington.  Finally,  in  November,  Martinez  quitted  Nootka 
Sound,  and  sailed  with  all  his  vessels  for  Mexico,  leaving  Ma- 
quinna  again  in  quiet  possession  of  liis  dominions. 

If  the  statements  of  Meares,  in  his  memorial,  and  of  Colnett,  in 
the  account  published  by  him  respecting  the  capture  of  the  Ar- 
gonaut and  Princess  Royal,  and  the  treatment  of  their  officers  and 
men  by  the  Spaniards,  be  admitted  as  conveying  a  full  and  cor- 
rect Aiew  of  the  circumstances,  the  conduct  of  Martinez  must  be 


1789. 
July  'i. 


July  3, 


J1474. 


(  '  '  ' 

i 

111.'  'I 

'■II, 


t 


rill 


4* 


/.u, 


n 


■*■: 


i 


lOS 


17fl9.  considered  as  nearly  equivalent  to  piracy.  From  these  state- 
ments it  would  appear  that  the  vessels  were  treacherously  seized, 
without  any  reasonable  grounds,  or  even  pretexts,  and  with  the 
sole  premeditated  object  of  plundering  tficm;  and  that  the  most 
cruel  acts  of  violence,  insult,  and  restraint,  were  wantonly  com- 
mitted upon  the  officers  and  men,  during  the  whole  period  of 

July  4.  their  imprisonment.  Colnett  relates*  that  when  he  presented 
his  papers  to  Martinez  in  the  cabin  of  the  Princesa,  the  command- 
ant, without  examining  them,  pronounced  them  to  be  forged,  and 
immediately  declared  that  the  Argonaut  should  not  go  to  sea ; 
that,  upon  his  "  revionstrating  (in  what  terms  he  does  not  say) 
against  this  breach  of  good  faith  and  forgetfulness  of  word  and 
honor  pledged"  the  Spaniard  rose  in  apparent  anger,  and  intro- 
duced a  party  of  armed  men,  by  whom  he  Avas  struck  down, 
placed  in  the  stocks,  and  then  closely  confined;  that  he  was  after- 
wards carried  from  ship  to  ship  like  a  criminal,  threatened  with 
instant  execution  as  a  pirate,  and  subjected  to  so  many  injuries 
and  indignities,  as  to  throw  him  into  a  violent  fever  and  deliri 
um,  which  were  near  proving  fatal ;  and  that  his  officers  and  men 
were  imprisoned  and  kept  in  irons,  from  the  time  of  their  seizure 
until  their  arrival  at  San  Bias,  where  many  of  them  died  in  con- 
sequence of  ill  treatment.  Meares,  in  his  memorial,  confirms  the 
assertions  of  Colnett ;  and  he  adds,  with  regard  to  the  capture  of 
the  Princess  Royal,  that  her  commander,  Hudson,  after  his  arrost 
at  Friendly  Cove,  was  forced  (by  means  of  threats  of  immediate 
execution)  to  send  written  orders  to  his  mate,  to  deliver  up  the 
vessel  without  resistance  to  the  Spaniards. 

Many  of  these  statements  are  supported  by  the  deposition  of 
the  officers  and  seamen  of  the  Northwest  America,  taken  in  Chi- 
na, which  is  appended  to  the  memorial ;  some  of  them,  however, 
are  directly  contradicted,  while  the  greater  part  are  invalidated, 
not  only  by  the  declarations  of  Gray  and  Ingraham,  but  even  by 
the  admissions  of  Duffin,  the  mate  of  the  Argonaut,  in  his  letters, 
also  attached  to  the  same  petition.  Thus  the  American  cap- 
tains understood,  "  from  those  whose  veracity  they  had  no  reason 
to  doubt,"  that  Colnett,  at  his  interview  with  Martinez  in  the  cab- 
in of  the  Princesa,  denied  the  right  of  the  Spaniards  to  occupy 
Nootka,  and  endeavored  to  impose  upon  the  commandant  by  rep- 
resenting himself  as  empowered  by  his  Government  to  erect  a  fort 
and  settle  a  colony  at  that  place  under  the  British  flag,  and  that  he 
afterwards  insulted  the  Spaniard  by  threatening  him  and  draw- 
ing his  sword.  Colnett  himself  says  that  he  attempted  to  draw 
his  sword  on  the  occasion,  but  that  it  was  in  order  to  defend  him- 
self against  those  who  assailed  him ;  and  it  must  be  allowed  to 
be  very  difficult  to  "  remonstrate"  with  a  man  upon  "  his  breach 
of  faith,  and  forgetfulness  of  his  word  and  honor  pledged,"  with- 

July  14.  out  insulting  him.  Duffin,  writing  to  Meares  from  Nootka,  ten 
days  after  the  seizure,  gives  nearly  the  same  account  of  the  inter- 
view, adding  that  the  misunderstanding  was  most  probably  oc- 


♦  See  Colnetl's  Account  of  a  Voyage  in  the  Pacilic  in  1793 ;  note  at  page  9G. 


casioned 
He  says 
happened 
prisoners 
complaini 
of  any  oi 
the  Spani 
over,  DuJ 
the  diseaf 
a  fit  of  ii 
upon  a  m 
alienatior 
his  accou 
and  retrac 

No  oth 
specting 
and  mem 
to  varioui 
tion  to  i\ 
all  of  wl 
doubt,  en 

Upon  r 
us,  there 
command 
render  hii 
however, 
ure  of  the 
ized  and 
posts  wei 
all  foreigi 
tories  unt 
was  direi 
Spain  ha 
could  no 
enmient, 
shoiUd 
before  thi 
fact  of  th 
authority 
ish  or  Ri 
ty;  and, 
nett's  shi 
had  no  ri 
cargoes, 
mandcr  1 
region. 

Meares 
these  occ 
the  two 
Nootka 
the  Span 
the  facts, 


these  stato- 
ously  seized, 
ncl  with  the 
hat  the  most 
intonly  colli- 
de period  of 
ic  presented 
e  command- 
e  forged,  and 
t  go  to  sea; 
oes  not  say) 
of  word  and 
T,  and  intro- 
tnick  down, 
he  was  after- 
eatened  with 
lany  injuries 
IX  and  deliri 
;ers  and  men 
their  seizure 
died  in  con- 
confirms  the 
be  capture  of 
fter  his  arrest 
of  immediate 
eliver  up  the 

deposition  of 
taken  in  Clii- 
em,  however, 
5  invalidated, 
,  hut  even  by 
in  his  letters, 
merican  cap- 
lad  no  reason 
BZ  in  the  cab- 
'ds  to  occupy 
ndant  by  rep- 
to  erect  a  fort 
a:,  and  that  he 
ni  and  draw- 
ipted  to  draw 
)  defend  him- 
i)e  allowed  to 
1  "  his  breach 
?dffed"  with- 
1  Nootka,  ten 
t  of  the  inter- 
probably  oc- 


e  at  page  9G. 


109 

casioned  by  the  interpreter's  ignorance  of  the  English  language. 
He  says  that  Martinez  appeared  to  be  very  sorry  for  what  had 
happened,  and  had  "  behaved  with  great  civility,  by  obliging  his 
prisoners  with  every  liberty  that  could  be  expected ;"  and  he 
complains  of  no  violence,  either  to  the  feelings  or  to  the  persons 
of  any  of  the  crews  of  the  vessels  seized,  although  he  charges 
the  Spaniards  with  plundering  both  openly  and  secretly.  More- 
over, Duffin  declares,  and  Meares  rei)eats  in  his  memorial,  that 
the  disease  with  which  Colnett  was  afflicted  after  his  arrest  was 
a  fit  of  insanity  occasioned  by  fear  and  disappointment  operating 
upon  a  mind  naturally  weak  and  hereditarily  predisposed  to  such 
alienation.  This  assertion  is  indignantly  repelled  by  Colnett,  in 
his  account  of  the  affair,  to  which  he  annexes  a  letter  of  apology 
and  retraction  from  Meares. 

No  other  evidence  has  been  presented  on  the  part  of  Spain,  re- 
specting these  proceedings,  than  what  is  contained  in  the  notes 
and  memorials  addressed  by  the  Court  of  Madrid  on  the  subject 
to  various  European  Governments  in  1790,  and  in  the  Introduc- 
tion to  the  Narrative  of  the  Voyage  of  the  Sutil  and  Mexicana; 
all  of  which  statements,  though  made  officially,  are,  without 
doubt,  erroneous  on  many  of  the  most  material  points. 

Upon  reviewing  all  the  circumstances  as  they  are  presented  to 
us,  there  is  little  doubt  that  Colnett  acted  towards  the  Spanish 
commandant  in  a  manner  so  extravagant  and  intemperate  as  to 
render  his  arrest  perfectly  justifiable ;  the  detention  of  his  vessel, 
however,  cannot  be  defended  on  the  same  grounds,  and  the  seiz- 
ure of  the  Princess  Royal  appears  to  have  been  totally  unauthor- 
ized and  inexcusable.  The  commanders  of  Spanish  American 
posts  were,  indeed,  ordered  by  their  general  instructions  to  seize 
all  foreign  vessels  entering  or  cruising  in  the  vicinity  of  the  terri- 
tories under  their  control ;  and  the  enforcement  of  these  orders 
was  directly  or  tacitly  admitted  by  all  the  nations  with  which 
Spain  had  made  treaties  relating  to  those  dominions.  But  it 
could  not  have  been  reasonably  intended  by  the  Spanish  Gov- 
ernment, or  allowed  by  other  Powers,  that  such  regulations 
should  be  enforced  at  a  new  settlement,  in  a  region  so  remote, 
before  the  people  of  any  other  country  could  be  informed  of  the 
fact  of  the  establishment.  We  know,  moreover,  from  the  highest 
authority,  that  Martinez  was  specially  instructed  to  treat  all  Brit- 
ish or  Russian  vessels  which  might  arrive  at  Nootka  with  civili- 
ty; and,  although  he  might  have  with  propriety  disarmed  Col- 
nett's  ships,  if  he  apprehended  any  attack  from  them,  he  certainly 
had  no  right  to  take  possession  of  them,  and  to  appropriate  their 
cargoes,  as  he  did,  to  his  own  uses,  merely  because  their  com- 
mander had  refused  to  recognise  the  supremacy  of  Spain  in  that 
region. 

Meares,  Vancouver,  and  other  British  writers,  in  alluding  to 
these  occurrences,  endeavor  to  cast  blame  on  the  commanders  of 
the  two  American  vessels,  which  were  at  the  time  in  or  near 
Nootka  Sound,  by  representing  them  as  aiding  and  supporting 
the  Spaniards  in  their  oppressive  proceedings.  Upon  examining 
the  facts,  we  find  that  the  Americans  never  pretended  to  ques- 


1789. 


>       I 


■■■'4 

m 


[l! 


'!:'■ 
^  1 


i 

ii!i' 


110 


I7fl9.  tion  the  right  of  Spain  to  the  country ;  and  the  conduct  of  the 
British  towards  thoin  was  not  such,  if  we  may  judge  from  the 
expressions  of  Mearcs,  as  to  excite  any  friendly  feeUngs  on  their 
part.  All  that  can  be  alleged  against  (Japtams  Kendrick  and 
Gray  seems  to  be  that  they  profited,  as  they  were  entitled  to  do, 
by  the  quarrels  between  the  other  two  parlies,  naturally  inclining 
towards  that  which  seemed  to  be  the  more  friendly  disposed  to- 
wards themselves. 

Upon  the  arrival  of  the  Argonaut  at  San  Bias,  Colnett  was  lib- 
erated from  confinement,  and  he  proceeded  to  the  city  of  Mexico, 
where  he  was  received  with  kindness  by  the  Viceroy,  Count  de 
Rcvillagigedo.  The  cases  of  the  Argonaut  and  Princess  Royal 
having  been  then  examined,  it  was  decided* — that  the  conduct  of 
Martinez  had  been  entirely  conformable  with  the  laws  and  ordi- 
nances of  Spain,  and  with  the  terms  of  treaties  existing  betweon 
that  kingdom  and  other  nations,  by  which  it  is  understood  that 
aliens  frequenting,  trading,  or  endeavoring  to  establish  them- 
selves "on  the  coasts  of  the  South  Sea  in  either  America"  shall 
be  regarded  and  treated  as  enemies,  without  any  presumable 
breach  of  faith  on  the  part  of  Spain ;  that  consequently  the  said 
two  vessels  might  be  retained  as  lawful  prizes ;  but  that,  in  con- 
sideration of  tlie  apparent  ignorance  of  their  owners  and  officers 
respecting  the  rights  and  laws  of  Spain,  as  well  as  for  the  sake  of 
preserving  peace  and  harmony  with  Great  Britain,  they  should 
be  released,  on  condition  of  their  not  entering  any  bay  or  port  in 
Spanish  America  without  pressing  necessity. 
ITW  In  virtue  of  this  decision,  Colnett  returned  to  San  Bias,  where 
he  found  that  several  of  his  men  had  died,  during  his  absence,  of 
the  fever  endemic  on  those  coasts.  With  the  remainder  he 
sailed  in  the  Argonaut  to  Nootka,  for  the  purpose  of  reclaiming 
the  Princess  Royal ;  but  the  sound  had  been,  long  before  he  ar- 
rived there,  evacuated  by  Martinez  and  his  forces,  who  from  some 
cause,  however,  did  not  reach  Mexico  until  after  the  departure 
of  Colnett.  From  Nootka  the  Argonaut,  having  taken  in  a  car- 
go of  furs,  sailed  for  the  Sandwich  Islands,  where  the  Princess 
Royal  was  found  lying  ;  Colnett  there  received  possession  of  her, 
and  arrived  with  both  vessels  at  Macao  in  the  latter  part  of  1790. 

The  Columbia,  under  the  command  of  Gray,  reached  Macao  in 
December,  1789,  bringing  as  passengers  the  officers  and  crew  of 
the  Northwest  America,  who  first  communicated  the  news  of  the 
seizure  of  the  Argonaut  and  Princess  Royal  to  thei:  owners. 
The  latter  immediately  resolved  to  apply  to  the  British  Govern- 
ment for  redress ;  and  Meares  accordingly  departed  for  London, 
where  he  arrived  in  March,  1790,  carrying  wifh  him  various  de- 
positions and  other  papers  in  substantiation  of  the  claims. 

Meanwhile  the  Court  of  Spain,  having  been  informed  of  what 

had  occurred  at  Nootka  in  the  summer  of  1789,  addressed  a  note 

P«b  10.  to  the  British  ministry,  stating  the  circumst^.nces,  and  requiring 

that  the  parties  who  had  planned  the  expeditions  should  be  pun- 

*  Vancou'  ■  r's  Account  of  his  Voyages,  vol.  iii,  page  cOT;  Memorial  of  the  Court 
of  Spain,  Auuual  Register  for  1790. 


ished,  in  n 
lories  occu 
years.  Tl 
ceived  ext 
Oovernme 
and  prope 
necessaril) 
party  migl 
America,  i 
those  outi 
was  concli 
vessels  se 
this  answ 
two  large 
this  measi 
the  naval 

Several 
Madrid  in 
seized  at 
had  been 
the  other, 
captains  m 
fair  might 
olic  Majes 
strain  his 
America,  I 
founded  u 
responden 
the  Britis 
quence,  b( 
be  easily  t 
tion  by  Mi 
obtiiined  f 
probable,  i 
at  Nootka 
than  six  It 

The  coi 
by  both  p 
were  com 
addressed 
vessels  be 
the  Britis 
" and  twc 
which  the 
been  capt 
Spanish  s 
beet,  seiz^ 
sonfrs  to 
fact.on,  ai 
tlia,  one 
Me:iico,  ' 
righvs  of 


nduct  of  the 
Ige  from  the 
ings  on  their 
eiidrick  and 
ntitled  to  do, 
illy  Inclining 
disposed  to- 

nett  was  lib- 
Ly  of  Mexico, 
)y,  Count  de 
incess  Royal 
le  conduct  of 
Kvs  and  ordi- 
ting  betweon 
lerstood  that 
ablish  theni- 
tnerica"  shall 

presumable 
ntly  the  said 

that,  in  con- 
s  and  officers 
)r  the  sake  of 

they  should 
)ay  or  port  in 

I  Bias,  where 
is  absence, of 
•emainder  he 
of  reclaiming 

before  he  ar- 
ho  from  some 
the  departure 
iken  in  a  car- 

the  Princess 
essiou  of  her, 

part  of  1790. 
hed  Macao  in 
I  and  crew  of 
B  new  s  of  the 
ihei:  owners, 
itish  Govern - 
i  for  London, 
n  various  de- 
laims. 

rmed  of  what 
ressed  a  note 
iiid  requiring 
lould  be  pun- 

jrial  of  ihe  Court 


111 

ished,  in  order  to  deter  others  from  making  sctti<>nionts  on  terri-     1700 
torics  occupied  and  frequented  by  the  Snaniards  tor  a  number  of 
years.     The  British  ministers  answered,  that  they  had  not  ro   Feb.  20 
ceived  exact  information  as  to  the  facts  stated  by  the  Spanish 
Government,  but  that  t/ir  arts  of  mnhncn  towards  British  subjects 
and  property,  mentioned  in  the  communication  from  the  latter, 
necessarily  suspended  any  discussion   of  claims  which  lither 
party  might  advance  to  the  possession  of  the  northwest  coasts  of 
America,  until  adequate  atonement  should  liave  been  made  for 
those  outrages  against  the  flag  of  Great  Britain ;  the  answer 
was  concluded  by  a  demand  for  the  immediate  restoration  of  the 
vessels  seized  at  Nootka.     Simultaneously  with  the  despatch  of 
this  answer,  orders  were  issued  at  London  for  the  armament  of 
two  largo  fleets ;  and  the  Spanish  Government,  taking  alarm  at 
this  measure,  caused  similar  preparations  to  be  commenced  in  all 
the  naval  arsenals  of  the  kingdom. 

Several  weeks  after  the  receipt  of  this  answer,  the  Court  of  Apni. 
Madrid  informed  the  British  ministry  that  one  of  the  vessels 
seized  at  Nootka  (the  Argonaut)  had  been  released,  and  orders 
had  been  given  by  the  Viceroy  of  Mexico  for  the  restitution  of 
the  other,  in  consideration  of  the  ignorance  of  their  owners  and 
captains  with  regard  to  the  rights  and  laws  of  Spain ;  that  the  af- 
fair might,  therefore,  be  regarded  as  at  an  end,  and  that  his  Cath- 
olic Majesty  would  be  satisfied  if  the  King  of  England  would  re- 
strain his  subjects  fiom  trespassing  uj)on  the  Pacific  coasts  of 
America,  to  whicfi  the  Crown  of  Spain  had  indubitable  right, 
founded  upon  treaties  and  immemorial  possession.  Ere  the  cor- 
respondence proceeded  farther,  the  matter  had  been  submitted  by 
the  British  mi:  istry  to  the  nation ;  and  a  fever  had,  in  conse- 
quence, been  excited  throughout  the  kingdom,  which  was  not  to 
be  easily  allayed.  Tliis  measure  was  the  result  of  the  presenta- 
tion by  Mearesof  his  Memorial,  praying  that  reparation  should  be 
obtained  for  himself  and  his  associates  tor  their  losses,  actual  and 
probable,  occasioned  by  the  seizure  and  detention  of  tlieir  vessels 
at  Nootka  ;  the  amount  of  which  was  estimated  at  no  less  a  sum 
than  six  hundred  amljiftij-tlnre  thmisnnd  dolfars. 

The  correspondence  above  noticed  was  kept  profoundly  secret 
by  both  parties  until  the  5th  of  May,  when  the  circumstances 
;vcro  conununicated  by  the  King  of  England,  through  a  message 
addressed  to  Parliament.  In  this  message,  it  is  stated  that  "two  May  5 
vessels  belonging  to  his  Majesty's  subjects,  and  navigated  under 
the  British  flag,"  (meaning  the  Argonaut  and  Princess  Royal,) 
"  and  two  others,"  (the  Iphigenia  and  Northwest  America,)  "  of 
which  the  description  is  not  hitherto  sufficiently  ascertained,  have 
been  captured  at  Nootka  Sound  by  an  officer  commanding  two 
Spanish  ships  of  war;  that  the  cargoes  of  the  British  vessels  have 
beei  seized,  and  their  officers  and  crews  have  been  sent  as  pri- 
son(  rs  to  a  Spanish  port."  That,  in  reply  to  a  demand  for  sarts- 
fact.on,  addressed  to  the  Court  of  Madrid,  it  had  been  declared 
tha,  one  of  the  British  vessels  was  liberated  by  the  Viceroy  of 
Mexico,  "  on  the  supposition  »hat  nothing  but  ignorance  of  the 
righvs  of  Spain  encouraged  the  individuals  of  other  nations  to 


!:ii 


li  ; 


'it 
,i 


i!;  ! 


113 


t;,|!i 


P" 


'\-- 


\^l 


1790.  como  on  tlios«  coasts,  for  tho  purpose  of  mnking  establishments 
Muy  &.  or  carrying  on  trade ;"  but  that  "  no  satisfaction  was  given  or  of. 
fered,  and  a  direct  claim  was  asserted  by  the  Court  of  Madrid  to 
the  excUisive  right  of  sovereignty,  navigation,  and  conmien^e,  in 
the  territories,  coasts,  and  seas  of  that  part  of  the  world."  In 
conse(|uence  of  all  which,  "  his  Majesty  had  directed  his  minis. 
ter  at  Madrid  to  make  a  fresh  representation  on  the  subject,  niul 
to  claim  such  full  and  ade(|uate  satisfaction  as  the  nature  of  tlio 
case  evidently  required.  And  under  these  circumstances,  bis 
Majesty,  having  also  received  information  that  considerable  arma- 
ments were  carrying  on  in  the  ports  of  Spain,  had  judged  it  nv- 
cessary  to  give  orders  for  such  preparations  as  might  put  it  in  his 
power  to  act  with  vigor  and  effect  in  support  of  the  honor  of  his 
Crown  and  the  interests  of  his  jMiopIc;  and  he  recommendoil 
that  Parliament  would  therefore  enable  him  to  take  such  meas- 
ures, and  to  make  such  augmentations  of  his  forces,  as  might  hu 
eventually  requisite  for  that  purpose." 

In  this  message,  it  will  be  remarked  that  no  mention  is  made 
of  the  seizure  of  any  lauf/ti  or  buildings  belonging  to  British  sub- 
jects at  Nootka;  and  it  will  be  found,  on  examining  the  docu- 
meiUs  attached  to  the  memorial  of  Meares,  that  no  notice  of  such 
possessions  is  contained  in  any  of  them,  except  in  "Me  wformu- 
tion  of  Williaia  Gmham,''^  one  of  the  seamen  of  the  Felice,  taken 
at  London,  on  the  very  day  in  which  the  message  was  read  in 
Parliamejit,  five  days  after  the  date  of  the  memorial.  It  may  also 
be  observed,  in  anticipation,  that  the  rejKms  of  the  debates  in 
Parliament,  and  the  published  corresp<indence  between  the  two 
Governments,  prior  to  the  signature  of  the  treaty  by  which  the 
dispute  was  terminated,  are  e(|ually  free  from  allusions  to  any 
claims  of  British  subjects  to  territories  or  houttes  on  the  north- 
west coast  of  America. 

The  recommendations  in  the  King's  message  were  received 
with  every  demonstnition  of  concurrence  in  i*arl lament,  and 
throughout  the  British  dominions;  and  the  supplies  required 
Maya,  were  immediately  voted.  On  the  day  in  which  the  message  was 
read,  a  note  was  addressed  by  the  ministry  to  the  Spanish  Court, 
insisting  upon  immediate  satisfaction  for  the  outrages  complained 
of;  and  declaring  that,  until  it  were  received,  the  question  of  the 
rights  of  Spain  would  not  be  discussed.  The  British  represent- 
May  Itf,  ative  at  Madrid  also  presented  formal  demands  to  the  Government 
for  restitution  of  the  other  vessel  (the  Princess  Royal)  seized  at 
Nootka — for  complete  indenmification  of  all  los^s  sustained  by- 
British  subjects  trading  under  the  British  flag,  from  the  acts  of 
Spanish  officers  on  the  northwest  coast  of  America — and  for  "  a 
distinct  acknowledgment  thai  British  subjects  have  an  indis- 
putable right  to  the  enjoyment  of  free  and  uninterrupted  com 
merce,  navigation,  and  fishery,  and  to  the  possession  of  such 
establishments  as  they  might  form,  with  the  consent  of  the  na- 
tives, on  any  part  of  the  American  coasts  not  previously  occupied 
by  some  European  nation." 

To  these  demands,  the  Spanish  minister.  Count  de  Florida 
Blauca,  gave  an  evasive  reply  on  the  13th  of  June;  after  having 


June. 


addressed 
Courts  of « 
monarch  t 
I7t)l,by  vv 
to  support 
These  mea 
obliged  to 
tion  to  her 
with  the  ui 
any  way,  t 
lorm  an  ex 

The  neg 
cisely  like  i 
the  Falkla 
minister  pi 
I'itt,  who  t 
objects  in 
relative  to  1 
nients  on  tl 
in  both  coil 
anticipated 

In  the  II 
liberating  \ 
of  Spain  to 
the  latter  tc 
resolutions 
celebrated  J 
they  were  ' 
ately  armin 
minions, 
the  nature 
Madrid  thf 
yet  afforde 
extent.     It 
assumed 
vance  of  r 
period,  rcn( 
differences 
in  unison 
the  exacti( 
ment,  inter 
ation.     Ce 
Powers,  at 
or  humiliat 
don  had  at 


»  See  declai 
Pitzherbert,  tl 
It  may  be  her 
was  finally  se 
the  two  Govei 
Annals  of  Co 

t  See  Annu 
the  interesting 


113 


jtahlishniouts 
s  f(ivoii  or  of. 
of  Madrid  to 
coiurnorre,  in 

world."  In 
.'d  tiis  iiiinis- 

siibj(!ct,  aiul 
nature  of  the 
usUmcos,  liis 
derabie  anna- 
judged  it  no- 
t  put  it  in  his 

honor  of  his 
•econimendcul 

0  such  mcas- 
I,  as  might  bu 

ition  is  made 
)  Rritish  sub- 
ng  the  docu- 
lotice  of  such 
'  the  informu- 
Felice,  taken 
e  was  read  in 
It  may  also 
10  debates  in 
ween  the  two 
by  which  the 
isions  to  any 
in  the  north- 
were  received 
rliament,  and 
ilies   required 

1  message  was 
Ipanish  Court, 
iis  complained 
uestion  of  the 
ish  represent- 
0  (jrovernment 
>yal)  seized  at 

sustained  by 
m  the  acts  of 
u — and  for  "  a 
ive  an  indis- 
3rrupled  com 
isioM  of  such 
ent  of  the  na- 
uisly  occupied 

ut  de  Florida 
;  after  having 


nddrossed  a  circular,  protesting  against  them,  to  nil  tlu  other  noo. 
Courts  of continr'iital  Europe.  He  likewise  solirifd  tlu;  French 
monarch  to  comply  with  the  terms  of  the  Family  ('ompact  of 
1701,  by  which  the  Sovereigns  of  France  and  .Spain  were  bound 
to  support  «!ach  other,  in  cases  similar  to  that  actually  (existing. 
These  measures,  however,  producing  no  favorable  results,  Ikj  was 
obliged  to  yield  to  the  demand  of  Great  Britain  f()r  indenmifica- 
tion  to  her  subjects;  which  was  promised*  on  the  24th  of  July,  Jump 91 
with  the  understanding  that  the  concession  M^ns  not  to  affect,  in 
any  way,  the  question  as  to  the  right  of  his  Catholic  Majesty  to 
tbrm  an  exclusive  establislunent  at  Nootka. 

The  negotiation  had  thus  far  proceeded  in  a  course  almost  pre- 
cisely like  that  of  the  dispute  between  the  same  parties  respecting 
the  Falkland  Islands,  twenty  years  previous;  and  the  Spanish 
minister  probably  expected  that  it  would  end  there.  But  Mr. 
Pitt,  who  then  directed  the  affairs  of  Great  Hritain,  had  ulterior 
objects  in  view,  which  induced  him  to  persist  in  his  exactions 
relative  to  th''  'ipo'-cupied  coasts  of  America;  atid  as  naval  arma- 
ments on  the  most  extensive  scale  were  in  progress  of  equipment 
in  both  countries,  a  rupture  of  the  peace  between  them  was  daily 
anticipated. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  National  Assembly  of  France  was  de-  Aug. 
liberating  upon  the  solicitation  for  aid  addressed  by  Charles  IV. 
of  Spain  to  his  cousin,  Louis  XVI.,  which  had  been  referred  by 
the  latter  to  that  body,  then  all-powerful  in  his  kingdom.  The 
resolutions,!  finally  adopted  in  the  Assembly,  as  proposed  by  the  Aug.  20 
celebrated  Mirabeau,  were  very  vague  with  regard  to  Spain,  while 
they  were  very  clear  and  positive  as  t )  the  necessity  of  immedi- 
ately arming  a  vast  naval  force  for  the  security  of  the  French  do- 
n\inions.  That  these  resolutions  must  have  materially  afiected 
the  nature  of  the  negotiation  between  the  Courts  of  London  and 
Madrid  there  can  be  no  doubt,  although  no  means  have  been  as 
yet  afforded  of  learning  in  what  manner  and  to  what  precise 
extent.  It,  however,  appears  probable  that  the  warlike  attitude 
assumed  by  the  National  Assembly,  together  with  the  rapid  ad- 
vance of  revolutionary  anti-monarchical  principles  at  the  same 
period,  rendered  the  disputing  parties  willing  to  compromise  their 
differences,  in  order  that  they  might,  if  there  should  be  need,  act 
in  unison  against  their  dangerous  neighbor.  Possibly,  indeed, 
the  exactions  of  the  British  minister  were,  from  the  commence- 
ment, intended  for  no  other  purpose  than  to  secure  such  co-oper- 
ation. Certain  it  is,  that  the  conditions  subscribed  by  the  two 
Powers,  at  the  conclusion  of  their  dispute,  were  far  less  onerous  Oct,  28. 
or  humiUating  to  Spain,  than  those  upon  which  the  Court  of  Lon- 
don had  at  first  announced  its  determination  to  insist. 

♦  See  dtclaration,  by  Count,  de  Florida  Blanca,  and  connOr-dcclarntion,  by  Mr. 
Fitzherbert,  the  British  envoy  at  iVladnd,  in  the  Annual  Register  lor  171MI,  pa  "e  300. 
It  may  be  here  mentioned,  thai  the  amount  payable  by  Spain  as  indemnification 
was  finally  settled  in  February,  171)3,  by  agreement  between  the  commissioners  of 
the  two  Governments,  at  two  hundred  and  ten  thousand  dollars.  See  Macpherson's 
Annals  of  Commerce,  vol.  iv,  page  209. 

t  See  Annual  Register  for  1790,  page  303.  The  resolutions  in  the  original,  and 
the  interesting  debates  in  the  Assembly,  may  be  found  in  the  Monileur. 


m 


t  ,i 


114 


ITM 


The  conditions  above  mentioned  are  contained  in  a  treaty, 
signed  at  the  Palace  of  San  Lorenzo,  or  the  Escurial,  in  Spain, 
on  the  28th  of  October,  1790,  and  ratified  on  the.  22d  of  the  fol- 
lowing month;  of  which  it  will  be  proper  here  to  insert  all  the  ar- 
ticles without  variation  from  the  original  text.* 

"Article  1.  The  buildings  and  tracts  of  land  situated  on  the 
northwest  coast  of  the  continent  of  North  America,  or  on  the 
islands  adjacent  to  that  continent,  of  which  the  subjects  of  his 
Britannic  Majesty  were  dispossessed  about  the  month  of  April, 
1789,  by  a  Spanish  officer,  shall  be  restored  to  the  said  British 
subjects. 

"Art.  2.  A  just  reparation  shall  be  made,  according  to  the  na- 
ture of  the  case,  for  all  acts  of  violence  or  hostility  which  may 
have  been  committed  subsequent  to  the  month  of  April,  1789,  by 
the  subjects  of  either  of  the  contracting  parties  against  the  sub- 
jects of  the  other;  and,  in  case  any  of  the  said  respective  subjects 
shall,  since  the  same  period,  have  been  forcibly  dispossessed  ol 
their  lands,  buildings,  vessels,  merchandise,  and  other  property, 
whatever,  on  the  said  continent,  or  on  the  seas  and  islands  adja- 
cent, they  shall  be  re-established  in  the  possession  thereof,  or  a 
just  compensation  shall  be  made  to  them  for  the  losses  which 
they  have  sustained. 

"  Art.  3.  In  order  to  strengthen  the  bonds  of  friendship,  and 
to  preserve  in  future  a  perfect  harmony  and  good  understanding, 
between  the  two  contracting  parties,  it  is  agreed  that  their  re- 
spective subjects  shall  not  be  disturbed  or  molested,  either  in 
navigating,  or  carrying  on  their  fisheries,  in  the  Pacific  Ocean  or 
in  the  South  Seas,  or  in  landing  on  the  coasts  of  those  seas  in 
places  not  already  occupied,  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  on  their 
commerce  with  the  natives  of  the  country,  or  of  making  settle 
ments  there ;  the  whole  subject,  nevertheless,  to  the  restrictions 
specified  in  the  three  following  articles. 

"  Art.  4.  His  Britannic  Majesty  engages  to  take  the  most  ef- 
fectual measures  to  prevent  the  navigation  and  the  fishery  of  his 
subjects  in  the  Pacific  Ocean  or  in  the  South  Seas  from  being 
made  a  pretext  for  illicit  trade  with  the  Spanish  settlements ;  and, 
with  this  view,  it  is  moreover  expressly  stipulated  that  British 
subjects  shall  not  navigate,  or  carry  on  their  fishery,  in  the  said 
seas,  within  the  space  of  ten  sea-leagues  fi^om  any  part  of  the 
coasts  already  occupied  by  Spain. 

"Art.  6.  As  well  in  the  places  which  are  to  be  restored  to 
the  British  subjects,  by  virtue  of  the  first  article,  as  in  all  other 
parts  of  the  northwestern  coasts  of  North  America,  or  ol  the 
islands  adjacent,  situate  to  the  north  of  the  parts  of  the  said  coast 
already  occupied  by  Spain,  wherever  the  subjects  of  either  of  the 
two  Powers  shall  have  made  settlements  since  the  month  ol 
April,  1789,  or  shall  hereafter  make  any,  the  subjects  of  the  other 
shall  have  free  access,  and  shall  carry  on  their  trade  without  any 
disturbance  or  molestation. 


♦  See  Annual  Register  for  1790,  pas;e  304;  Parliamentary  History  for  same  year, 
page  91G ;  Ilersileit^s  Collection  of  British  Treaties,  vol.  ii,  page  257. 


"Art.  I 

South  An 

be  formet 

those  coas 

coasts,  an 

by  Spain 

tain  the  li 

for  the  pi 

and  other 

«  Art.  ' 

of  the  pre 

permitting 

of  force,  si 

of  its  circ 

nate  such 

"Art.  J 

firmed  in 

of  its  sigr 

This  tn 

3d  of  Dec 

Houses. 

fended  in 

tion,  as  sec 

subjects,  s 

tare,  by  oj 

and  establi 

grounds  as 

hand,  cont 

respect  coi 

tained ;  na 

eminent  w 

rially  abri( 

whereas  tl 

ted  or  cont 

fish  in  any 

ever  the  sul 

they  were 

miles  to  a 

on  a  large 

permanent 

northern 

tie,"  said 

might  forn 

another. 

all  the  exf 

ble  to  be  tl 

be  placed 

the  sou  the 

stated  to  h 

son  with  V 

remove  all 

ing  a  setth 


115 


in  a  treaty, 
al,  in  Spain, 
>(1  of  the  fol- 
ert  all  the  ar- 

;uated  on  the 
a,  or  on  the 
ibjects  of  his 
I  nth  of  April, 
said  British 

ng  to  the  na- 
j  which  may 
ipril,  1789,  by 
linst  the  sub- 
ctive  subjects 
ispossessed  of 
ther  property, 

islands  adja- 
L  thereof,  or  a 

losses  which 

•iendship,  and 
mderstanding, 
that  their  re- 
sted, either  in 
Lcific  Ocean  or 
those  seas  in 
rying  on  their 
naking  settle 
16  restrictions 

the  most  ef- 
fishery  of  his 
2as  from  being 
tlements ;  and, 
id  that  British 
ry,  in  the  said 
ny  part  of  the 

be  restored  to 
as  in  all  other 
rica,  or  of  the 
f  the  said  coast 
of  either  of  the 
the  month  ol 
CIS  of  the  other 
le  without  any 


itory  for  same  year, 
e  257. 


"  Art.  6.  With  respect  to  the  eastern  and  western  coasts  of  iw 
South  America,  and  to  the  islands  adjacent,  no  settlement  shall 
be  formed  hereafter,  by  the  respective  subjects,  in  such  part  of 
those  coasts  as  are  situated  to  the  south  of  those  parts  of  the  same 
coasts,  and  of  the  islands  adjacent,  which  are  already  occupied 
by  Spain :  provided  that  the  said  respective  subjects  shall  re- 
tain the  liberty  of  landing  on  the  coasts  and  islands  so  situated, 
for  the  purposes  of  their  fishery,  and  of  erecting  thereon  huts 
and  other  temporary  buildings,  serving  only  for  those  purposes. 

"  Art.  7.  In  all  cases  of  complaint  or  infraction  of  the  articles 
of  the  present  convention,  the  officers  of  either  party,  without 
permitting  themselves  previously  to  commit  any  violence  or  act 
offeree,  shall  be  bound  to  make  an  exact  report  of  the  atfair,  and 
of  its  circumstances,  to  their  respective  Courts,  who  will  termi- 
nate such  difl'erences  in  an  amicable  manner. 

"Art.  8.  The  present  convention  shall  be  ratified  and  con- 
firmed in  the  space  of  six  weeks,  to  be  computed  from  the  day 
of  its  signature,  or  sooner  if  it  can  be  done." 

This  treaty  was  submitted  to  Parliament  b}'^  Mr.  Pitt  on  the 
3d  of  December,  and  became  the  subject  of  discussion  in  both  Dec  ; 
Houses.  By  the  friends  of  the  ministry  it  was  extolled  and  de- 
fended in  general  terms,  as  vindicating  the  honor  of  the  na- 
tion, as  securing  reparation  for  injuries  committed  against  British 
subjects,  and  as  affording  important  advantages  to  them  in  fu- 
ture, by  opening  the  navigation  of  the  Pacific  and  South  Seas, 
and  establishing  the  question  of  the  southern  fisheries  on  such 
grounds  as  must  prevent  all  dispute.  The  opposition,  on  the  other 
hand,  contended  that  the  advantages  derivable  from  it  were  in  no 
respect  commensurate  with  the  costs  at  which  it  had  been  ob- 
tained ;  nay,  it  was  insisted  by  Fox,  Grey,  liansdowne,  and  other 
eminent  whigs,  that  the  rights  of  British  subjects  had  been  mate- 
rially abridged  by  the  new  stipulations.  They  observed  that, 
whereas  the  British  formerly  possessed  the  right, "  whether  admit 
ted  or  contested  by  Spain  was  of  no  consequence^''  to  navigate  and 
fish  in  any  part  of  the  Pacific  or  South  Seas,  and  "  to  settle  wher- 
ever the  subjects  of  no  other  civilized  nation  had  previously  settled," 
they  were  by  this  treaty  prohibited  from  going  nearer  than  thirty 
miles  to  a  Spanish  territory,  and  from  establishing  themselves 
on  a  large  portion  of  South  America,  as  well  as  from  forming  any 
permanent  or  useful  settlement  on  the  northwest  coast  of  the 
northern  continent.  "  In  every  place  in  which  we  might  set- 
tle," said  Grey,  " access  was  left  for  the  Spaniards,  Where  we 
might  form  a  settlement  on  one  hill,  they  might  erect  a  fort  upon 
another.  A  merchant  must  run  all  the  risks  of  a  discovery,  and 
all  the  expenses  of  establishment,  for  a  property,  which  was  lia- 
ble to  be  the  subject  of  continual  dispute,  and  which  could  never 
be  placed  upon  a  permanent  footing  "  Mr.  Fox  denied  "  that 
the  southern  whale  fishery  was  of  the  great  importance  it  was 
stated  to  be,"  and  declared  that  it  was  mere  "dross"  in  compari- 
son with  what  had  been  renounced  in  order  to  obtain  it.  "  To 
remove  all  possibility,"  said  that  gentleman,  "  of  our  ever  form- 
ing a  settlement  to  the  south  of  her  American  colonies,  was  an 


:';ji 


■''lii 


>  il  : 


r    1 


ii     \ 


;  ! 


116 


\% 


1790.  object  for  which  Spain  would  have  been  willing  to  pay  a  liberal 
price."  Of  the  truth  of  this  assertion,  there  was  sufficient  proof 
m  the  efforts  made  by  the  Government  of  Spain  to  prevent  other 
nations  from  planting  colonies  in  the  Falkland  Islands;  from 
which  islands,  it  may  be  remarked,  both  parties  to  the  conven- 
tion appear  to  have  been  excluded  by  the  terms  of  the  sixth  ar- 
ticle. 

It  was  also  noticed  by  Mr.  Fox,  as  a  curious  and  inexplicable 
incongruity  in  the  treaty,  that  "  about  the  month  of  Aprils  1789," 
should  have  been  inserted  as  the  date  of  what  was  known  to 
have  taken  place,  agreeably  to  all  the  evidence  produced,  in  May 
of  the  same  year ;  and  that  although,  by  the  first  article,  the 
lands  and  buildings  declared  to  have  been  taken  from  British 
subjects  by  a  Spanish  officer  '*  abovi  the  month  of  April,  1789," 
were  to  be  restored,  yet,  by  the  second  article,  the  lands,  build- 
ings, and  other  property,  of  which  the  subjects  of  either  party 
had  been  dispossessed  "  subsequent  to  the  month  of  April,  1789," 
were  t©  be  restored,  or  compensation  was  to  be  made  to  the  own- 
ers for  the  losses  which  they  might  have  sustained.  Now,  as  the 
Spaniards  did  not  arrive  upon  the  northwest  coast  of  America 
until  May,  1789,  it  is  clear  that  their  Government  might,  at  its 
own  option,  either  restore  the  lands  and  buildings  claimed  by 
British  subjects,  or  make  compensation  for  the  loss  of  them  to 
their  owners. 

Upon  this  point  it  will  be  seen,  that  if  the  word  or  in  the  con- 
cluding part  of  the  second  article  were  replaced  by  and,  the  in- 
congruity would  disappear ;  but  then,  also,  the  first  article  would 
become  entirely  superfluous.  It  would,  however,  be  idle  to  sup- 
pose that  any  error  could  have  been  committed,  with  regard  to 
matters  so  essential,  or  that  the  want  of  accordance  between  the 
different  provisions  of  the  convention,  noticed  by  Mr.  Fox,  should 
have  been  the  result  of  accident  or  carelessness.  The  ministers, 
when  pressed  for  explanations  on  this  head,  answered  indirectly 
that  the  Spanish  Government  would  make  the  restitutions  as 
agreed  in  the  first  article ;  to  the  other  objections  raised  against 
the  convention,  they  gave  only  general  or  evasive  replies.  By 
means  of  their  majorities  in  both  Houses  of  Parliament,  which 
were  so  great  as  to  render  any  expenditure  of  argument  unne- 
cessary, they  negatived  every  call  for  papers  relative  to  the  nego- 
tiation ;  and,  having  triumphantly  carried  their  address  of  thanks 
to  the  Sovereign,  they  were  left  at  liberty  to  execute  the  new 
stipulations  agreeably  to  their  own  constructions,  for  which  am- 
ple space  had  been  certainly  provided.* 


*  An  analysis  ofthe  convention  will  be  found  in  the  ninth  chopterofthis  memoir, 
among  the  observations  on  the  Florida  Treaty. 


Execution  of 
Surrender 
igators,  Fi 
•service  of 
Ingraham, 
Gray— Exi 
ago — Forn 
nian  and  A 

The  coi 
ish  Gover 
the  lands  : 
were  to  bi 
For  this  p 
sent  to  No 
ministry,  I 
George  Va 
who  was  1 
voyage  of 
between  i\ 
for  the  Oj- 
not  deliv 
a  month  i 
patched  by 
mandant  c 
"  to  delivoi 
ings  and  i 
that  Sover 
as  also  th( 
about  sixt€ 
communic 
who  was  c 
does  not  a 
ers,  by  eitl 
lands  or  bi 
VancouA 
after  havin 
mence  the 
the  35th  ai 
these  resej 
with  regai 
tion,  whic 
tween  the 


pay  a  liberal 
fficient  proof 
»revent  other 
lands;  from 
the  conven- 
the  sixth  ar- 

inexplicable 
Aprily  1789," 
IS  known  to 
iced,  in  May 
t  article,  the 
from  British 
April,  1789," 
lands,  build- 
f  either  party 
April,  1789," 
e  to  the  own- 
Now,  as  the 
St  of  America 
;  might,  at  its 
s  claimed  by 
ss  of  them  to 

or  in  the  con- 
y  and,  the  in- 
,  article  would 
)e  idle  to  sup- 
vith  regard  to 
3  between  the 
r.  Fox,  should 
rhe  ministers, 
red  indirectly 
restitutions  as 
raised  against 
replies.    By 
lament,  which 
gument  unne- 
re  to  the  nego- 
Iress  of  thanks 
3cute  the  new 
for  which  am- 


>ter  of  ihis  memoir, 


117 


CHAPTER    VII. 

Execution  of  the  first  article  of  the  treaty  of  1790,  between  Great  Britain  and  Spain — 
Surreiiiler  of  Nootka  to  the  British— Voyages  and  discoveries  of  the  Spanisn  nav- 
igators, Fidalgo,  Malaspina,  Caamano,  Galiano,  and  Vaides;  of  Billings,  in  the 
■service  of  Russia  -,  of  Marchand ;  of  Vancouver ;  and  of  the  American  fur-traders, 
Ingraham,  Gray,  and  Kendrick — Discovery  of  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia,  bv 
Gray — Examination  of  the  Strait  of  Fuca,  and  of  the  great  Northwest  Archipel- 
ago— Formation  of  the  Northwest  Fur-trading  Company — Expeditions  of  Rod- 
man and  Mackenzie  through  ihe  interior  of  the  North  American  continent. 

The  convention  of  1790  having  been  thus  concluded,  the  Brit-  1791. 
ish  Government  prepared  immediately  to  assume  possession  of 
the  lands  and  buildings  on  the  northwest  coast  of  America,  which 
were  to  be  surrendered  by  Spain  agreeably  to  the  first  article. 
For  this  purpose,  it  was  determined  that  two  frigates  should  be 
sent  to  Nootka,  under  the  command  of  Captain  Trowbridge;  the 
ministry,  however,  afterwards  committed  the  business  to  Captain 
George  Vancouver,  who  had  been  one  of  Cook's  lieutenants,  and 
who  was  then  about  to  sail  to  the  Pacific  with  two  ships,  on  a 
voyage  of  discovery.  There  were,  doubtless,  some  difficulties 
between  tiic  tjarties  to  the  convention  respecting  this  surrender, 
for  the  oy^^  )  the  Spanish  Minister  of  State  to  that  effect  was 
not  dehv  i  •  /  Madrid  until  the  12th  of  May,  1791,  more  than  May  1-2. 
a  month  aiter  the  departure  of  Vancouver,  to  whom  it  was  des  • 
patched  by  a  store-sliip.  The  order  was  addressed  to  the  Com- 
mandant of  the  port  of  San  Lorenzo,  of  Nootka,  directing  him 
"  to  deliver  to  his  Britannic  Majesty's  commissioner  the  build- 
ings and  tracts  of  land  which  were  occupied  by  the  subjects  of 
that  Sovereign  in  April,  1789,  as  well  those  in  the  port  of  Nootka, 
as  also  those  in  the  other,  called  Port  Cox,  said  to  be  situated 
about  sixteen  leagues  further  southward."*  The  same  order  was 
communicated,  with  the  convention,  to  the  Viceroy  of  Mexico, 
who  was  charged  with  its  execution  on  the  part  of  Spain ;  but  it 
does  not  appear  that  any  means  were  afforded  to  the  commission- 
ers, by  either  of  the  Governments,  for  ascertaining  precisely  what 
lands  or  buildings  were  to  be  surrendered. 

Vancouver  was  instructed  to  proceed  directly  to  Nootka,  and, 
after  having  completed  the  business  of  the  transfer  there,  to  com- 
mence the  examination  of  the  American  coasts  included  between 
the  35th  and  the  60th  parallels  of  north  latitude.  The  objects  of 
these  researches  were  especially  to  acquire  accurate  information 
with  regard  to  the  nature  and  extent  of  any  water  communica- 
tion, which  might  tend  to  facilitate  commercial  intercourse  be- 
tween the  northwest  coasts  and  the  territories  on  the  opposite 


•  Introduction  to  the  Journal  of  Vancouver's  Voyage. 
9 


\m 


fl't 


v'li 


0 


•I ; 

li 

•Mi 
.11 

ill 


■  ! 


! 


118 


1790. 
Mar.  4 


i-J' 


I7c)i.  side  of  the  continent,  inhabited  or  occupied  by  British  subjects, 
and  to  ascertain  with  precision  the  number,  extent,  and  situation 
of  any  settlements  made  by  civilized  nations  within  those  Umits. 
He  was  directed  particularly  "  to  explore  the  supposed  Straits  of 
Fuca,  said  to  be  situated  between  the  48th  and  49th  degrees  of 
latitude,  through  which  the  American  sloop  Washington  was  re- 
ported to  have  passed  in  1789,  and  to  have  come  out  again  north 
of  Nootka;"  after  which,  he  was,  if  there  should  be  time  sufficient, 
to  survey  the  Sandwich  Islands  and  the  southernmost  coasts  of 
America.  With  these  instructions,  Vancouver  sailed  from  Eng- 
land on  the  1st  of  April,  1791,  and  just  a  year  afterwards  he  ar- 
rived on  the  northwest  coast,  in  sight  of  Cape  Mendocino. 

In  the  mean  time,  Nootka  had  been  again  occupied  by  Span- 
ish forces,  which  were  sent  for  that  purpose  from  Mexico,  in  the 
spring  of  1790,  under  the  command  of  Don  Francisco  Elisa;  and 
Spanish  navigertors  were  again  exphjring  the  northwest  coasts  of 
America,  in  order  to  observe  the  proceedings  of  the  Russians,  and 
also  to  determine  the  question  as  to  the  practicability  of  a  north- 
ern voyage  between  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  oceans.  That  ques- 
tion was  then  exciting  considerable  attention  in  Europe,  where 
every  thing  relating  to  it  was  carefully  studied,  and  the  old  stories 
of  the  discovery  of  northern  passages  were  dragged  forth  from  ob- 
scurity, and  subjected  to  critical  analyses,  by  scientific  individu- 
als and  commissions.  Three  of  these  stories,  of  which  Maldonado. 
Fuca,  and  Fonte  were  severally  the  heroes,  were  pronounced, 
after  such  trials,  to  be  not  wholly  destitute  of  probability,  and 
the  commanders  of  all  the  expeditions  to  the  north  Pacific  were 
instructed  to  endeavor  to  ascertain  how  far  each  statement  might 
be  confirmed  or  disproved. 

The  Spaniards  were,  indeed,  beginning  seriously  to  direct  their 
efforts  to  the  security  of  their  dominions  northwest  of  Mexico ; 
and  with  this  view,  a  special  branch  of  the  administration  in  that 
kingdom  had  been  created,  under  the  title  of  the  Marine  Depart- 
ment  of  San  Bias,  which  was  charged  with  superintending  and 
fostering  the  establishments  on  the  coasts  of  the  north  Pacific. 
The  port  of  San  Bias  in  Mexico,  situated  near  the  entrance  of  the 
Californian  Gulf,  was  made  the  centre  of  the  operations  for  these 
purposes;  arsenals,  ship-yards,  and  warehouses  were  construct- 
ed at  that  place ;  all  expeditions  for  the  northern  coasts  were  made 
from  it;  and  all  orders  relative  to  the  abovementioned  objects 
passed  through  the  chief  of  the  department,  who  resided  there. 

Of  the  voyage  of  Lieutenant  Salvador  Fidalgo  to  the  northern- 
most coasts  of  the  Pacific,  in  the  summer  of  1790,  it  is  imneces- 
sary  he  e  to  present  the  details.    The  geographical  information 
obtained  by  him  was  of  little  value,  although  he  thought  proper 
to  affix  Spanish  names  to  a  number  of  points  between  Mount  St. 
Elias  and  Cook's  Inlet,  nearly  all  of  which  had  been  long  before 
known  and  described. 
1791.        Those  coasts  were  in  the  following  year  more  minutely  exam- 
June  23  ined  by  Captain  Alexandro  Malaspina,  in  the  course  of  his  voy- 
Au"'  13  ^^®  around  the  world,  with  the  Spanish  corvettes  Atrevida  and 
°'    '  Descuhierta  under  his  command.    He,  however,  made  no  dis- 


coveries 
of  great* 
some  pi; 
the  Jour 
this  expe 
ducted  i 
does  nol 
The  un] 
under  tli 
Godoy,  \ 
1794,  an( 
at  Corun 
ment,  an 
name  of 
While 
ka,  Elisa 
Strait  of 
in  it,  and 
among  hi 
ly  attemp 
terminati( 
NavaiTete 
at  the  ea; 
by  him  / 
Discovery 
The  vi 
Captain  I 
is  here  m 
the  Journ 
Marchan( 
King  Gee 
or  Edgec 
with  the 
ward  to  t 
casionallj 
departure 
other  pla 
from  this 
philosoph 
northwesi 
institutio] 
In  the 
the  Unite 
Among  tl 
ton  undei 
seph  Ingi 
of  Captaii 
contains 


•  The  olh 
ihe  Pacific  s 
geeitlie^fei 


119 


sh  subjects, 
ind  situation 
those  limits, 
led  Straits  of 
h  degrees  of 
gton  was  re- 
;  again  north 
ne  sufficient, 
ost  coasts  of 
d  from  Eng- 
wards  he  ar- 
ocino. 

ied  by  Span- 
lexico,  in  the 
;o  Elisa;  and 
vest  coasts  of 
lussians,  and 
y  of  a  north- 
.    That  ques- 
lurope,  wherp 
;he  old  stories 
forth  from  ob- 
tific  individu- 
;h  Maldonado. 
I  pronounced, 
ibability,  and 
I  Pacific  were 
itement  might 

to  direct  their 
St  of  Mexico ; 
tration  in  that 
farine  Depart- 
intending  and 
north  Pacific, 
ntrance  of  the 
tions  for  these 
ere  construct- 
ists  were  made 
tioned  objects 
?sided  there. 
1  the  northern- 
,  it  is  unneces- 
al  information 
bought  proper 
een  Mount  St. 
sen  long  before 

linutely  exam- 

rse  of  his  voy- 

5  Atrevida  and 

made  no  dis- 


coveries worthy  of  mention  at  present,  and  he  effected  nothing  1791 
of  greater  importance  than  the  determination  of  the  positions  of 
some  places  already  known.  Navarrete,  in  his  Introduction  to 
the  Journal  of  the  Sutil  and  Mexicana,  gives  a  long  account  of 
this  expedition, and  bestows  the  utmost  praise  on  those  who  con- 
ducted it ;  yet,  will  it  be  believed  that  the  name  of  Malaspina 
does  not  appear  in  that  work?  Such  is,  nevertheless,  the  fact. 
The  unfortunate  navigator,  an  Italian  by  birth,  having  ftiUen 
under  the  displeasure  of  the  Spanish  Government,  or  rather  of 
Godoy,  was  arrested  immediately  after  his  return  to  Europe,  in 
1794,  and  was  for  seven  years  kept  closely  confined  in  a  dungeon 
at  Corunna.  Navarrete,  writing  under  the  eye  of  that  Govern- 
ment, and  for  its  purposes,  did  not  dare  inscribe  on  his  pages  the 
name  of  the  u'  ^appy  victim  of  its  injustice. 

While  Malaspina  was  thus  engaged  on  the  coasts  north  of  Noot- 
ka,  Elisa,  the  commandant  of  that  port,  endeavored  to  explore  the 
Strait  of  Fuca;  he,  however,  penetrated  only  a  hw  leagues  with- 
in it,  and  was  then  forced  to  return  by  the  appearance  of  scurvy 
among  his  crew.  One  of  his  lieutenants,  Q,uimper,  had  previous- 
ly attempted,  with  little  better  success,  to  trace  this  passage  to  its 
termination ;  from  the  slight  account  given  of  his  voyage  by 
NavaiTete,  it  appears  that  he  examined  the  whole  southern  shore, 
at  the  eastern  extremity  of  which  he  discovered  a  harbor  called 
by  him  Port  Qiiarlra,  probably  the  same  afterwards  named  Port 
Discover]/  by  Vancouver. 

The  visit  made  to  the  northwest  coast  of  America,  in  1791,  by 
Captain  Etienne  Marchand,  in  the  French  merchant  ship  Solif/e, 
is  here  mentioned,  only  because  the  Introduction,  by  Fleurieu,  to 
the  Journal  of  his  Voyage,  has  been  already  several  times  quoted. 
Marchand  landed  on  one  of  the  islands  of  the  group  now  called 
King  George  the  Third's  Archipelago,  near  Mount  San  Jacinto 
or  Edgecumb,  and  remained  there  a  fortnight  engaged  in  trading 
with  the  natives  ;  after  which,  he  sailed  along  the  coasts  south- 
ward to  the  entrance  of  Clyoquot  bay,  a  little  east  of  Nootka,  oc-  Sept.  7. 
casionally  landing  and  making  observations,  and  thence  took  his 
departure  for  China.  Respecting  the  places  thus  seen,  or  any 
other  places,  indeed,  very  little  information  is  to  be  obtained 
from  this  journal,  although  hundreds  of  its  pages  are  devoted  to 
philosophical  speculations  on  the  origin  and  capabilities  of  the 
northwest  Americans,  their  languages,  and  political  and  religious 
institutions,  and  on  languages  and  institutions  in  general. 

In  the  course  of  this  year,  also,  no  less  than  seven  vessels  from 
the  United  States  arrived  in  the  north  Pacific,  in  search  of  furs. 
Among  them  were  the  ship  Colutnbia,  which  returned  from  Bos- 
ton under  Captain  Gray,  and  the  brig  Hope,  commanded  by  Jo- 
seph Ingraham,  the  former  mate  of  the  Columbia.*  The  Journal 
of  Captain  Ingraham,  to  which  reference  has  been  so  often  made, 
contains  minute  accounts  of  occurrences  and  observations,  which 


♦  The  others  were,  the  Was/iington,  Captain  Kendrick,  which  had  remaii.ed  in 
the  Pacific  since  1788;  the  Eleonora,  Captain  Metcalf;  the  Margaret,  Capt?.in  Ma- 
gee;  the  Hancock,  Captain  Crowell;  and  the  Jefferson,  Captain  Roberts. 


August 
and 
Sept. 


I  'ill  1 


','i 


J,: " 


)*': 

s 


•!  I 


■H 


120 


1791.  are  recorded  in  a  clear  and  simple  manner;  and  it  is  illustrated 
by  many  charts  and  drawings,  all  serving  to  prove  that  the  world 
is  indebted  to  the  efforts  of  the  American  fur-traders  for  much 
information  relative  to  the  northwest  coasts,  which  is  usually  sup- 
posed to  have  been  procured  originally  by  the  British  and  Span- 
ish navigators.  Of  Captain  Gray's  second  voyage  to  the  Pacific, 
we  know  but  little ;  that  little,  however,  comes  from  authentic 
sources,  and  is  worthy  of  being  carefully  preserved. 

Ingraham  sailed  from  Boston  on  the  16th  of  September,  1790; 
in  January  following  he  doubled  Cape  Horn,  after  stopping  at  So- 
ledad  or  Port  Egmont,  in  the  Falkland  Islands,  where  he  found 
a  Spanish  garrison ;  and,  in  April,  he  discovered  the  group  of  six 
small  islands,  situated  nearly  in  the  centre  of  the  Pacific,  which 
are  now  called  the  Wiishington  Islands  by  all  geographers  except 
May  CO.  the  British.  On  the  20th  of  May  the  Hope  reached  Owyhee, 
and  on  the  29th  of  June  she  was  anchored  in  a  harbor  on  tlio 
southwest  side  of  Queen  Charlotte's  Island,  to  which  Ingraham 
gave  the  name  of  Magee*s  Sound.  Ab.out  this  island,  and  the 
coasts  of  the  continent  immediately  east  of  it,  he  remained  du- 
ring the  whole  summer ;  and  having  collected  a  large  cargo  of 
furs,  he  carried  them  to  Canton  in  the  autumn. 

The  Columbia  quitted  Boston  on  the  27th  of  September,  1790, 

May.  and  in  May  of  the  ensuing  year  she  reached  the  northwest  coast 
of  America,  a  little  northward  of  Cape  Mendocino.  Sailing  along 
the  coast  towards  Nootka,  Captain  Gray  observed  an  opening,  in 
the  latitud<3  of  46  degrees  16  minutes,  from  which  issued  a  current 
so  strong  as  to  prevent  his  entrance,  although  he  remained  nine 
days  in  its  vicinity  endeavoring  to  effect  that  object.  Being  at 
lengtii  fully  convinced  that  he  had  discovered  the  mouth  of  a 
great  river,  he  continued  his  course  towards  the  north,  and  on 
the  5th  of  June  arrived  in  the  harbor  of  Clyoquot,  near  Nootka. 
From  this  place  the  Columbia  soon  sailed  for  Queen  Charlotte's 
Island,  near  which  she  fell  in  with  the  Hope,  on  the  23d  of  July. 
On  the  15th  of  August  she  entered  an  inlet  under  the  parallel  of 
54^  degrees,  up  which  she  proceeded  more  than  eighty  miles 
towards  the  northeast ;  the  passage  was  found  to  be  wide  and 
deep  throughout  this  whole  distance,  and  appeared  to  extend 
much  farther  in  the  same  direction.  Gray,  however,  was  unable 
to  pursue  the  examination  of  it,  and  returned  witn  the  persuasion 
that  he  had  discovered  the  Rio  de  los  Reyes,  through  which  Ad 
miral  Fonte  was  said  to  have  sailed  on  his  way  to  the  Atlantic, 
in  1640.    The  passage  is  that  now  called  the  Portland  Canal.  On 

Sept.  leaving  it,  the  Columbia  returned  to  Clyoquot,  at  the  entrance  of 
which  she  met  the  French  ship  Solide,  commanded  by  Captain 
Marchand,  just  as  the  latter  was  shaping  her  course  for  China. 
Here  Gray  and  his  crew  passed  the  winter  in  a  fortified  habita- 
tion on  the  shore,  to  which  he  gave  the  name  of  Fort  Defiance. 
Here,  also,  he  built  and  launched  a  schooner,  called  the  Enter- 
prise, the  first  vessel  constructed  on  the  northwest  side  of  the 
continent  by  citizens  of  the  United  States.  While  remaining  at 
this  place,  "  Wiccannish,  the  chief  of  that  district,  had  concerted 
a  plan  to  capture  his  ship,  by  bribing  a  native  of  Owyhee,  whom 


3  illustrated 
\t  the  world 
:s  for  much 
isually  sup- 
\  and  Spaii- 
the  Pacific, 
n  authentic 

tnber,  1790; 
pping  at  So- 
;re  he  found 
group  of  six 
icific,  which 
)hers  except 
ed  Owyhee, 
irbor  on  the 
;h  Ingraham 
md,  and  the 
jniained  du- 
irge  cargo  of 

ember,  1790, 
•thwest  coast 
Sailing  alonjr 
1  opening,  in 
ued  a  current 
mained  nine 
:t.    Being  at 
!  mouth  of  a 
lorth,  and  on 
near  Nootka. 
in  Charlotte's 
!  23d  of  July, 
he  parallel  of 
eighty  miles 
be  wide  and 
ed  to  extend 
r,  was  unable 
lie  persuasion 
jh  which  Ad 
I  the  Atlantic, 
id  Canal.  On 
le  entrance  of 
;d  by  Captain 
se  for  China, 
rtified  habita- 
''ort  Defiance, 
ed  the  Enter- 
st  side  of  the 
remaining  at 
had  concerted 
«ryhee,  whom 


121 

Gray  had  with  him,  to  wet  the  priming  of  all  the  fire-arms  on  I7i)l. 
board,  which  were  constantly  kept  loaded;  upon  which  the  chief 
would  easily  have  overpowered  the  ship's  crew  by  a  number  of 
daring  Indians  assembled  for  the  purpose.  This  project  was 
happily  discovered ;  and  the  Americans  being  on  their  guard,  the 
fatal  effects  of  the  plan  were  prevented."* 

Captain  John  Kendrick,  who  commanded  the  Columbia  in  her 
first  voyage  to  the  Pacific,  had  remained  in  that  ocean  with  the 
sloop  Washington  since  1789.  In  August  of  1791,  while  lying  Aii?iivi. 
in  Nootka  Sound,  ho  had  reason  to  suspect  that  the  Spaniards 
would  seize  his  vessel,  in  case  he  should  endeavor  to  proceed  to 
sea;  and  under  this  impression,  he  determined  to  make  his  way, 
if  possible,  through  a  passage  which  he  believed  to  exist,  from 
the  extremity  of  the  harbor  northwestward  into  ihe  Pacific.  His 
effort  proved  successful;  and  he  bestowed  upon  the  channel  thus 
found  the  name  of  Massackusetts  Sound.  This  passage,  called 
by  the  natives  Ahasstt,  is  not  laid  down  upon  Vancouver's  majj.s ; 
an  account  of  it,  however,  appears  n\  the  Journal  of  the  Sutil  and 
Mexicana,  where  it  is  called  the  Passage  of  Buenu  Esperanza, 
and  its  discovery  is  attributed  to  the  officers  of  Malaspina's  ships, 
who  surveyed  it  in  the  latter  part  of  the  same  month,  after  Kend- 
rick had  passed  through  it. 

About  the  same  time,  Kendrick  purchased  from  Maquinna, 
VViccannish,  and  other  chiefs,  several  large  tracts  of  landf  near 
Nootka  Sound,  for  which  he  afterwards  exhibited  deeds  signed, 
or  rather  marked^  by  the  savages,  and  witnessed  by  many  of  the 
ofliners  and  crew  of  the  Washington.  These  deeds  were  authen- 
ticated by  a  notary  at  Macao ;  and  attempts  were  made  at  Lou- 
don, in  179o,  to  sell  the  lands  supposed  to  have  been  thus  legally 
acquired.  So  lately,  indeed,  as  1838,  a  memorial  was  presented 
to  the  Congress  of  tlie  United  States  by  the  representatives  of  the 
owners  and  captain  of  the  Washington,  praying  that  their  title  to 
these  territories  might  be  confirmed  or  purcliased  by  the  Govern- 


♦  Vnncouvor's  .Tournal,  vol.  i,  patrc  215. 

tThu  pnri:husc  of  these  Inmls  is  nieiilionci!  by  Wadstrom,  in  his  work  on  CoV..- 
nizatiun,  piiblisheil  nl  Londiu)  in  17i)5;  and  hy  \incphetson,  in  his  Annals  ol'  Com- 
merce. Tiie  ciirt'ular  issued  by  Messrs.  B.incll  &C(i.,  in  1795,  (of  which  one  of  tlie 
orij^inals  is  now  before  the  writer,)  is  n  cnrivins  document;  it  is  in  four  languai;cs, 
and  is  couehed  in  terms  the  most  unspeeifie  which  could  have  been  chi^sen.  The 
in/uihilaiUa  of  Eiirnpc  are  informed  that,  "  in  1787,  Captain  J .  Kendrick,  while  prcs- 
ecuting  an  advanian;eo'.is  voyage  wiiii  tlie  natives  for  furs,  purchased  of  them,  for 
llie  owners,  a  trad  of  de'iiihtiul  country  comprehend mg  four  degrees  or  'atitude,  or 
210  miles  square;"  and  "that  such  asniay  be  inclined  t(  associate  for  settling  a  coii'i- 
monwealth,  on  their  own  code  of  laws,  on  a  spot  of  t!  e  <;lobe  nowhere  surpa-ssed  in 
deliijliiful  and  healthv  climate  and  fertile  .•^oil,  claimed  by  no  civilized  nation,  anil 
purehaseil  under  a  sacred  iicaty  of  pence  and  commerce,  and  for  a  valuable  consid- 
eraion,  of  the  friendly  natives.'  may  have  the  best  opportunity  of  try insr  the  result  ol' 
such  an  cnter;;iisc."  Where  these  four  desjrecsof  latitude,  or  24(»  miles  squai-e,  are 
situated,  is  no  otherwise  stated  than  that  iliey  are  in  America.  The  deeds  for  Ihe 
lands  are  declared  in  the  circular  to  have  been  registered  in  the  otTice  of  the  Aineri- 
cin  consul  in  China.  These  deeds,  or  s  une  of  hem,  which  have  been  recently  pub- 
lished, relate  only  to  the  territories  about  Nooika  and  Clyoquot;  and  althoM<2;h  they 
embrace  the  whole  of  the  dominions  of  Maquinna  and  Wiccannish,  thev  do  not 
nniount  to  one  twenty-fourth  part  of  .i'lO  miles  square.  Moreover,  the  whole  isbnd 
in  wliicli  those  territories  arc  situa;ed  extends  throuirh  onlv  two  and  a  half  degrees 
of  latitude;  so  that  c.her  la:.ds  must  have  been  purchased  by  Kendrick. 


f' 


>'■*' 


•I :  i 


122 


* 


1791.  ment;  and  the  same  claim  is  now  being  urged  before  Congress. 
That  the  transactions  here  described  between  Keudrick  and  the 
savage  chiefs  did  really  take  place,  there  is  no  reason  to  doubt ; 
it  is,  however,  scarcely  probable  that  the  validity  of  the  purchases 
v/ill  ever  be  recognised  by  the  civilized  nation  which  may  here- 
after jxissess  the  country  adjacent  to  Nootka  Sound. 

After  purchasing  these  lands,  Kendrick  sailed  to  the  Sandwich 
Islands,  and  there  engaged  in  a  new  branch  of  commerce,  of 
which  he  was  the  originator.  It  was  the  collection  and  trans- 
portation to  China  of  the  odoriferous  wood  called  sandal,  which 
grows  in  all  the  islands  of  the  centre  of  the  Pacific,  and  is  in 
great  demand  throughout  the  Celestial  Empire.  Vancouver  con- 
sidered the  scheme  chimerical ;  the  result,  however,  has  proved 
that  it  was  founded  on  just  calculations,  as  the  trade  thus  opened 
has  ever  since  been  prosecuted,  and  at  the  present  day  affords 
employment  to  many  vessels.  Kendrick  did  not  live  long  to 
profit  by  it ;  he  was  killed  at  Owyhee,  in  1793,  by  the  natives. 

1790.  The  Russians  likewise  endeavored,  at  this  time,  to  carry  into 
effect  their  long  contemplated  voyage  of  discovery  through  the 
north  Pacific.  After  four  years  of  preparations,  one  of  the  ships, 
built  for  the  purpo.se  at  Petro-Paulowsk,  sailed  from  that  place  in 
May,  1790,  under  ('aptain  Joseph  Billings,  an  Englishman,  who 
had  accompanied  Cook  in  his  last  voyage,  and  had  been  engaged 
by  the  Empress  to  direct  this  expedition.  Billings  advanced  no 
farther  than  the  vicinity  of  Mount  Saint  Elias,  which  he  reached 
in  the  latter  part  of  July ;  there  his  provisions  began  to  fail,  and 
he  was  in  consequence  obliged  to  return  to  Kamschatka.    In  the 

1791.  following  year,  two  vessels  were  sent  from  Petro-Paulowsk,  with 
the  same  objects,  under  Captains  Hall  and  Saretschef;  neither  of 
which  proceeded  beyond  Unalashka.  A  melancholy  picture  of 
the  sufferings  experienced  in  these  vessels  has  been  presented  by 
Martin  Saner,  a  German,  wiio  acted  as  secretary  to  the  expedi- 
tion, in  his  narrative  published  ten  years  afterwards.  Another 
account  of  these  voyages  has  l)een  given  by  Saretscheff,  who  im- 
putes the  failure  of  the  undertaking  to  the  incapacity  of  Billings. 

1792.  In  1792,  many  discoveries  were  made  on  the  nortliAvest  coasts 
of  America  by  the  British,  the  Spaniards,  and  the  citizens  of  the 
United  States. 

May  13.  In  the  spring  of  that  year  Captain  Jacinto  Caamano,  com- 
manding the  corvette  Aranzazu^  and  liieutenants  Dionisio  Alcala 
Galiano  and  Cayetano  Valdes,  with  the  small  sloops  fiiutil  and 
Mexicaua,  arrived  at  Nootka  from  Mexico,  with  orders  to  ex.ini- 
ine  certain  parts  of  the  coast  which  had  not  been  visited  by  Mal- 
aspina.  Galiano  and  Valdes  soon  after  departed  together  for  the 
Strait  of  Fuca,  of  which  their  survey  will  be  hereafter  described; 
Avhile  Caamano  proceeded  to  examine  the  numerous  openings  in 
the  land,  which  had  been  observed  immediately  north  and  north- 
east of  Queen  Charlotte's  Island. 

In  the  discharge  of  this  duty,  Caamano  displayed  great  skill 
and  activity,  as  appears  from  the  account  of  his  voyage*  given  by 


Mav  23 

to 
Sept.  7. 


♦  Inlroducliun  to  the  Journal  of  the  Sutil  and  Me.xicana,  page  123. 


Navarret 
prescntiti 
explored 
tween  tl 
surveyed 
of  these  ( 
land ;  oti 
from  eacl 
added  to 
was  left  ( 
Pacific,  ( 
Sun  Laz 

It  shoi 
Caamano 
named  b] 
fur- trade) 
tions  upo 
the  north 
miliarly  \ 
Hancock'' 
charts  an 
pronounc 
than  any 

An  atte 
iards  to  f 
Fuca,  nei 
Port  Nu)\ 
in  conseq 
culty  of 
were  the 
establishr 
as  each 
Port  San 
came,  by 
northern 
belong!  lu 

In  the 
near  Cap( 
raanded 
Broughto 
nent,  he 
tude,  whf 
river  in  I 
down  on 
Ro.'/iie  an 
and  53  m 
called  Ca 
tion  with 


♦  The  Uir 
by  Toiquetr 


•e  Congress, 
rick  and  the 
11  to  doubt; 
le  purchases 
h  may  here- 

le  Sandwich 
jmmerce,  of 
1  and  trans- 
nidali  which 
,c,  and  is  in 
icouver  con- 
,  has  proved 
thus  opened 
[  day  affords 
Hve  long  to 
the  natives, 
to  carry  into 
through  the 
of  the  ships, 
that  place  in 
ishman,  who 
leen  engaged 
advanced  no 
h  lie  reached 
1  to  fail,  and 
atka.    In  the 
ulowsk,  with 
?f ;  neither  of 
ly  picture  of 
presented  by 
the  cxpedi- 
is.    Another 
leff,  who  im- 
Y  of  Hillings. 
Invest  coasts 
tizens  of  the 

amano,  com- 
lonisio  Alcala 
ps  Sutil  and 
ers  to  exam- 
sited  by  Mal- 
jether  for  the 
er  described ; 
5  openings  in 
■h  and  north - 

3d  great  skill 
ge*  given  by 

ipre  123. 


123 

Xavarrete,  and  as  indirectly  testified  by  Vancouver.  Without  1792 
presenting  the  details  of  his  researches,  suffice  it  to  say  that  he 
explored  many  of  the  bays  and  intricate  channels  which  he  be- 
tween the  52d  and  the  56th  parallels  of  latitude,  and  minutely 
surveyed  the  northern  side  of  Queen  Charlotte's  Island.  Some 
of  these  channels  were  traced  by  him  to  their  terminations  in  the 
land ;  others  being  ascertained  to  be  straits,  separating  islands 
from  each  other  and  from  the  continent.  I'rom  his  observations, 
added  to  those  of  the  fur  traders  and  of  the  natives,  little  doubt 
was  left  of  the  existence  of  many  other  islands  in  that  part  of  the 
Pacific,  occupying  the  position  assigned  to  the  Archipelago  of 
Suit  Lazaro,  in  the  story  of  Admiral  Fonte's  voyage. 

It  should  be  observed,  however,  with  regard  to  the  accounts  of 
Caamano's  expedition,  that  several  of  the  places  visited  and 
named  by  him  had  been  surveyed  in  the  preceding  year,  by  the 
fur-traders  of  the  United  States,  who  had  also  bestowed  appella- 
tions upon  them.  Thus  the  ports  of  Estrada  and  Mazaredo,  on 
the  northern  shore  of  Queen  Charlotte's  Island,  were  already  fa- 
miliarly known  to  the  Americans  frequenting  those  coasts  as 
HaiH'ock^s  river  and  CrajVs  Somid.  Ingraham  has  inserted 
charts  and  descriptions  of  both  harbors  in  his  journal,  where  he 
pronounces  Hancock's  river  to  be  better  adapted  for  a  settlement 
than  any  other  place  on  the  northwest  side  of  America. 

An  attempt  was  likewise,  about  this  time,  made  by  the  Span- 
iards to  form  a  settlement  on  the  southern  side  of  the  Strait  of 
Fuca,  near  its  mouth,  at  a  place  to  which  they  gave  the  name  of 
Port  Nunez  Gaona ;  but  they  were  soon  obliged  to  abandon  it,  • 
in  consequence  of  the  insecurity  of  the  anchorage  and  the  diffi- 
culty of  obtaining  provisions.  This  place  and  Nootka  Sound 
were  the  only  spots  nortli  of  Port  San  Francisco  on  which  any 
establishment  was  formed  or  attempted  by  the  Spaniards;  and, 
as  each  settlement  was  founded  after  the  month  of  April,  1789, 
Port  San  Francisco,  in  the  latitude  of  37  degrees  49  minutes,  be- 
came, by  virtue  of  the  fifth  article  of  the  convention  of  1700,  the 
northern  limit  of  the  section  of  the  American  coast  exclusively 
belonging  to  Spain. 

In  the  middle  of  April  Captain  Vancouver  arrived  on  the  coast,  Apni  \h. 
near  Cape  Mendocino,  with  his  two  ships,  the  Discovery,  com- 
manded by  himself,  and  the  Chatham.,  by  Lieutenant  William 
Broughton.  Proceeding  northward  along  the  shore  of  the  conti- 
nent, lie  carefully  observed  tlie  part  near  the  43d  degree  of  lati- 
tude, where  Martin  de  Aguilar  was  said  to  have  found  a  large 
river  in  1003,  and  that  near  the  46th,  where  an  opening  was  laid 
down  on  the  Spanish  charts,  bearing  the  names  of  Rio  de  San 
Rof/ue  and  Entrada  de  Heceta.  Under  the  parallel  of  42  degrees 
and  52  minutes  liu  passed  a  promontory,  which  he  ungenerously 
called  Cape  Orford,  although  it  corresponds  precisely  in  situa- 
tion with  the  Cape  Blanco  of  Aguilar ;  the  river*  which  that  navi- 


♦  The  Uinqua  and  ihe  Klainet,  wliich  en;er  the  ocean  near  the  position  assigned 
by  Toiquemada  to  the  mouth  of  Agtiiiar's  river,  are  both  inconsiderable  streams. 


ill 


1i 


;i; 


1    1! 


.1 


i  ! 


m 


I' 


m 


i .  I 


124 


1792.  gator  wns  supposed  to  have  seen  rould  not  bo  found  by  tbe  En- 
glish, and  there  is  now  little  doubt  that  the  account  of  its  dis- 
covery, given  by  Torqueniada,  is  erroneous. 

Vancouver  was  equally  convinced  that  no  great  stream  entorcd 
the  Pacific  in  the  position  assigned  to  the  mouth  of  tbe  San 
Roque ;  in  describing  his  search  for  it  he  says,  (vol.  i,  page  209:) 

April 27.  "On  the  27th  of  April,  noon  brought  us  up  with  a  very  con- 
spicuous point  of  land,  composed  of  a  cluster  of  hummocks, 
moderately  high  and  projecting  into  the  sea.  On  the  south 
side  of  tliis  promontory  was  the  apj)earance  of  an  inlet  or  small 
river,  the  land  not  indicating  it  to  be  of  any  great  extent ;  nor 
did  it  seem  accessible  for  vessels  of  our  burthen,  as  the  break- 
ers extended  from  the  above  point  two  or  three  miles  into  the 
ocean,  until  they  joined  those  on  the  beach  nearly  four  leagues 
farther  south.  On  reference  to  Mr.  Meares's  description*  of  the 
coast  south  of  this  promontory,  I  was  at  first  induced  to  believe 
it  was  Cape  Slioalvmter ;  but,  on  ascertaining  its  latitude,  I  pre- 
sumed it  to  be  that  which  he  calls  Cape  Disappointment,  and 
the  opening  south  of  it  Deception  Ray.  This  cape  was  found 
to  be  in  latitude  46  degrees  19  minutes,  longitude  236  degrees  G 
minutes.  The  sea  had  now  changed  from  its  natural  to  river- 
colored  water,  the  probable  consequence  of  some  streams  falling 
into  the  bay,  or  into  the  ocean  north  of  it,  through  the  low  land. 
Not  considering:;  this  opening  n'orthy  of  more  attention,  I  contin- 
ued our  pursuit  to  the  northwest,  being  desirous  to  embrace  the 
advantages  of  the  now  prevailing  breeze  and  pleasant  weather,  so 
favorable  to  an  examination  of  the  coasts." 

April  29.  He  accordingly  sailed  onwards,  and,  on  the  afternoon  of  the 
next  day  but  one,  he  mot  at  the  entrance  of  the  Strait  of  Puca 
the  American  ship  Columbia,  which  had  just  quitted  her  winter- 
ing place  at  Clyoquot;  her  captain.  Gray,  informed  the  English 
"  of  his  havingt  entered  an  inlet  to  the  northward,  in  latitude  of 
64^  degrees,  in  which  he  had  sailed  to  the  latitude  of  66  without 
discovering  its  termination;"  and,  a'oO,  of  "his  having  been  otl 
the  mouth  of  a  river,  in  the  latitude  of  46  degrees  1()  minutes, 
where  the  outset,  or  reflux,  was  so  strong  as  to  prevent  his  enter- 
ing for  nine  days.  This  was  probably,"  continues  Vancouver, 
"  the  opening  passed  by  us  on  the  forenoon  of  the  27th,  and  was 
apparently  inaccessible,  not  from  the  current,  but  from  the  break 

April  30.  ers  that  extend  across  it."  On  the  following  day,  after  parting 
with  the  Columbia,  he  writes  in  his  journal :  "  We  liave  now  ex- 
plored a  part  of  the  American  continent,  extending  nearly  two 
hundred  and  fifteen  leagues,  ww^er  #//e  most  fortunate  and  favora- 
ble circumstances  of  wind  and  v-cather.  So  minutely  has  this  ex- 
tensive coast  been  inspected,  that  the  surf  has  been  constantly  seen 
to  break  on  its  shores,  from  the  mast-head ;  and  it  was  but  in  a 
few  small  intervals  only  where  our  distance  precluded  its  being 
visible  from  the  deck.     It  must  be  considered  as  a  very  singular 


♦  See  Meares'.s  Journal,  page  107;  and  page  1)3  of  this  memoir, 
t  Vancouver'.s  Journal,  vol.  i,  paf^e  iJl?. 


circumsti 
not  until 
shores,  w 
the  u'hoU 
harrier  a, 
from  the 
south  of 
of  the  27 
be  found 
sels  of  o\ 
then  app 
been  sev( 
unable  t( 
is  a  phen 
there  are 
ponding 
roughly 
board,  th 
opening, 
from  Caj 
ry,  at  the 
to  alter  oi 
have  thoi 
of  the  oc 
tensive  ri 

From 
placed  n 
discoverj 
ment;  b( 
stream  ei 
curity  fo 
and  the 
as  his  w( 
credit  or 
the  repu 
Under  th 
of  Fuca 
was  on 
solved,  il 

While 


♦  Extract  / 
ih. 

May  7,  I' 

same,  whic 
and  went  ir 
b^tronj?  weal 
Ilia  ship  ci: 
We  .soon  s 
past  3,  ^jore 
sandy  botio 
fathoms,  ha 
At  5  p.  M.  c 


125 


1  by  the  En- 
nt  of  its  di;^ 

ream  eiitorcd 
I  of  the  Sui) 
i,page  209:) 
a  very  con- 
hummocks, 
n  the  south 
nlet  or  small 
t.  extent;  nor 
IS  the  break- 
liles  into  the 
four  leagues 
ption*  of  the 
led  to  believe 
ititude,  I  pre- 
intuient,  and 
w  was  found 
236  degrees  G 
tural  to  rivor- 
treams  falling 
the  low  land. 
Hon,  I  contin- 
)  embrace  the 
nt  weather,  so 

;rnoon  of  the 
Jtrait  of  Fuca 
;d  her  winter- 
1  the  English 
in  latitude  of 
of  56  without 
ving  been  olT 
s  1()  minutes, 
ent  his  enter- 
3s  Vancouver, 
27th,  and  was 
om  the  break 
■,  after  parting 
have  now  ex- 
ig  nearly  two 
te  and  fnvorn- 
y  has  this  ex- 
onsUwtly  seen 
was  but  in  a 
ded  its  being 
very  singular 


circumstance,  that,  in  so  great  an  extent  of  sea-coast,  we  should 
not  until  now  hare  seen  the  appenrnnrc  i>f  niuj  opernni;  in  if-i 
shores,  which  presented  any  certain  prospect  of  alFording  shelter", 
t/ic  whole  coast  forininfi'  otic  compart,  .soMff,  and  iiearhj  s/raii>ht 
harrier  as^ninst  the  sea.  The  river  mentioned  by  Mr.  (»ray  should, 
from  the  latitude  he  assigned  to  it,  have  existence  iu  the  bay 
south  of  Cape  Disappointment.  This  we  passed  in  the  forenoon 
of  the  27th;  and,  as  I  then  observed,  if  any  inlet  or  river  slKudd 
be  found,  it  nmst  be  a  very  intricate  one,  and  inaccessible  to  ves- 
sels of  our  burthen,  owing'  to  the  reefs  and  brohen  water,  which 
then  appeared  in  its  neighborhood.  Mr.  Gray  stated  that  he  had 
been  several  days  attempting  to  enter  it,  which  at  length  he  was 
unable  to  effect,  in  consequence  of  a  very  strong  outset.  This 
is  a  phenomenon  difficult  to  account  for,  as  in  most  cases,  where 
there  are  outsets  of  such  strength  on  a  sea-coast,  there  are  corres- 
ponding tides  setting  in.  Be  that,  however,  as  it  may,  I  was  tho- 
roiighly  convinced,  as  were  also  most  persons  of  observation  on 
hoard,  that  we  could  not  possibly  have  passed  any  safe  navigable 
opening,  harbor,  or  place  of  security  for  shipping,  on  this  coast, 
from  Cape  Mendocino  to  the  promontory  of  Classet,  [Cape  Flatte- 
ry, at  the  entrance  of  the  Strait  of  Fuca;]  nor  had  we  any  reason 
to  alter  our  opinions,  notwithstanding  that  theoretical  geographers 
have  thought  proper  to  assert  in  that  space  the  existence  of  arms 
of  the  ocean  communicating  with  a  mediterranean  sea,  and  ex- 
tensive rivers  with  safe  and  convenient  ports." 

From  the  above  extracts,  it  is  evident  that  Captain  Vancouver 
placed  no  reliance  on  the  correctness  of  Gray's  account  of  the 
discovery  of  a  great  river  immediately  south  of  Cape  Disappoint- 
ment; being  satisfied,  from  his  own  observations,  that  no  such 
stream  emptied  into  the  ocean,  and  that  no  harbor  or  place  of  se- 
curity for  shipping  would  be  found  between  Cape  Mendocino 
and  the  Strait  of  Fuca.  The  British  commander  was,  moreover, 
as  his  work  abundantly  shows,  always  disinclined  to  regard  with 
credit  or  favor  any  thing  which  might  be  calculated  to  advance 
the  reputation  or  interests  of  the  people  of  the  United  States. 
Under  these  impressions,  he  commenced  his  survey  of  the  Strait 
of  Fuca;  while  Gray,  confident  that  he  had  not  been  mistaken, 
was  on  his  way  to  the  mouth  of  the  great  river,  which  he  re- 
solved, if  possible,  to  enter  with  his  ship. 

While  proceeding*  southward  along  the  coast,  after  parting 


iMny, 


*  Extract  from  the  lo"  book  of  the  ship  Coliimbiu,  Captain  Robert  Graij,  taken  from 
the  original  oy  Charles  Bulfivck,  one  oftlw  owners  of  the  Columbia. 

May  7,  179'3,  a.  m. — Beinf?  within  six  miles  of  the  land,  saw  an  entrance  in  the 
same,  which  had  a  very  good  appearance  of  a  harbor;  lowered  away  the  jolly-boat, 
and  went  in  search  of  an  anchoring  rdace,  the  ship  standing  to  and  fro,  with  a  very 
strong  weather-current.  At  i  r.  m.  the  boat  returned,  having  found  no  place  where 
tha  ship  could  anchor  with  safety;  made  sail  on  the  ship;  stood  in  for  the  shore. 
We  soon  saw,  from  our  masthead,  a  passage  in  between  the  ".andbars.  At  half- 
past  3,  \)0Te  away,  and  run  in  northeast  by-east,  having  from  ^our  to  eight  fathoms, 
sandy  bottom  ;  and,  as  we  drew  in  nearer  between  the  bars,  had  from  ten  to  thirteen 
fathoms,  having  a  very  strong  tide  of  ebb  to  stem.  Many  canoes  came  alongside. 
At  5  p.  M.  came  to  in  five  fathoms  water,  sandy  bottom,  in  a  safe  harbor,  well  shel- 


I  I    : 


1:    il 


Ih  !' 


ill 


\'M 


126 


1709  with  Vnnrouvcr,  the  raptain  of  tJic  Cohimhin  found  and  on 
May*,  icrt'd,  on  tho  7th  of  May,  a  harbor  near  the  47th  degree,  wliicli 
he  nronounees  to  be  "  safe,  and  well  sheUered  from  the  sea 
by  long  sand-bars  and  sjuts."  H<!ro  he  remained  four  days, 
and,  on  leaving  the  place,  ho  bestowed  on  it  the  name  of 
llulfinvh\s  Harbor,  in  compliment  to  one  of  the  owners  of  the 
ship.  It  is  generally  distinguished  on  maps  by  the  apiwllatioii 
of  Gnu/s  Harbor',  Arrowsmith  and  other  British  geographers, 
with  their  usual  injustice  towards  citizens  of  the  United  States, 
call  it  Whhihn/it  Iltirbor,  because  it  was  afterwards,  as  will  be 
shown,  surveyed  by  Lieutenant  Whidbey,  the  conmiander  of  one 
of  Vancouver  s  vessels. 
Miiy  11  From  Bulfmch's  Harbor  the  Columbia  departed  on  the  11th, 
and,  after  a  few  hours  sail,  she  arrived  op|)osite  the  Deception 
Bay  of  Meares,  immediately  south  of  his  Cape  Disappointment. 


» 


m 


lercd  from  the  son  by  lon^f  sandbars  ami  spits.  Our  latimJe,  ol)st'rved  this  day, 
was  4(1  de)?rofs  M  miniiies  nortli. 

May  l(».— Fresh  hreezos  ami  pleasant  wtiUhor;  many  natives  nIonRside;  al  noon, 
all  the  canoes  left  us.  Al  I  v.  .m.  boijan  to  unnioitr,  took  up  the  Ix.'st  bower-anchor, 
nnd  hiivo  short  on  the  small  boweranchor.  At  hiill'past  4,  (being  high  water,)  hove 
up  the  anchor,  and  cnme  to  sail  and  n  beating  down  the  harbor. 

Mtiij  1 1. — At  halt-past  7  we  were  out  clear  of  the  bars,  ami  directed  our  course  to 
the  soutliward,  along  shore.  AvH  v.  m.  the  entrance  ol'Bullineh's  harbor  bore  north, 
distance  four  miles;  the  southern  extremity  of  the  land  bore  soiithsoutheast  half 
east,  and  the  northern  north-northwest;  seiitupthe  nuin  top-gallant  yanl  ami  set 
all  .-ail.  At  4  a.  m.  saw  tlie  entrance  of  our  desired  port  bearing  east  southeast,  dis- 
tance six  leagues;  in  steering  sails,  and  haulel  otir  wind  in  shore.  At  W  a.  m.,  be- 
ing a  little  to  windward  of  the  entrance  of  the  harbor,  bote  away,  and  run  in  enst- 
nortlieasl  between  the  breakers,  having  from  five  to  seven  fathoms  of  water.  When 
wi'  were  over  the  bar,  we  fouiut  this  to  be  a  large  river  of  fresh  water,  up  which  wo 
Steele  I  iM:iny  canoes  came  along>ide.  At  1  p.  m.  came  to  with  the  small  bower, 
in  ten  fathoms,  black  nnd  white  snnd.  The  entrance  betwen  the  bars  Imre  we>i- 
southwest,  distant  ten  miles-  the  north  side  of  the  river  a  hali  mile  distant  fidiii  the 
ship;  the  south  side  of  the  same  two  nnd  a  half  miles  distance;  a  village  on  tin! 
north  side  of  the  river  west-by-north,  distant  ihree-tjuarters  of  a  mile.  Vast  num- 
bers of  natives  came  alongside  ;  people  employed  in  pumping  the  salt  water  out  <if 
our  water-casks,  in  order  to  fill  with  fresh,  while  the  ship  lloated  in.    So  ends. 

Miiij  Vi. — .Many  natives  alongside;  noon,  fresh  wind;  let  go  the  best  bower-an- 
chor, anil  veered  out  on  both  cables;  sent  down  the  main  top  galliiit  yaul ;  lilled 
up  all  the  water-casks  in  the  hold.  The  latter  part,  heavy  gales  and  rainy  Uiriy 
weather. 

May  13.— Fresh  wind.s  and  rainy  weather;  many  natives  alongside;  hove  up  the 
best  bower  anchor ;  seamen  and  tradesmen  at  their  various  depar  nitnts. 

Mny  14. — Fresh  gales  and  cloudy;  many  natives  alongside;  at  mson  weighed  and 
came  to  sail,  standing  up  the  river  northeast  bv-east ;  we  found  the  channel  very 
narrow.  At  4  p.  m.  we  nad  sailed  upwards  of  twelve  or  fifteen  miles,  when  thi' 
channel  was  so  very  narrow  that  it  was  almost  impossible  to  keep  in  it,  having  from 
three  to  eighteen  fathoms  water,  sandy  bottom.  At  hall-past  t  the  ship  took  groiiml, 
hut  she  did  not  stay  long  before  she  came  off,  without  any  assistance.  We  backed 
her  off,  stern  foretiio.st,  into  three  fathoms,  and  let  go  the  small  bower,  and  moored 
ship  with  kedge  and  liawser.  The  jolly  boat  was  sent  to  sound  the  channel  out, 
but  found  it  not  navigable  any  further  up ;  so,  of  course,  we  must  have  taken  the 
wrong  channel.    So  ends,  with  rainy  weather;  many  natives  alongside. 

Tuesday,  May  l!j. — Light  airs  and  pleasant  weather;  monv  natives  from  dilTerent 
tribes  eanie  alongside.  At  10  a.  m.  unmoored  and  dropped  down  wiih  the  tide  to  a 
better  anchoring  place;  smiths  and  other  tradesmen  constantly  employed.  In  the 
afternoon  Captain  Gray  and  Mr.  Hoskins,  in  the  jolly-boat,  went  on  .shore  to  take  a 
short  view  of  the  country. 

May  16. — Light  airs  and  cloudy.  At  4  a.  m.  hove  up  the  anchor,  and  towed  down 
about  three  miles  with  the  Inst  of  the  ebb  tide;  came  into  six  fathoms,  sandy  bottom, 
the  jolly-boat  sounding  the  channel.  At  10  a.  ivi.  a  fresh  breeze  came  up  river.  With 
the  first  of  the  ebb-tide  we  got  under  way  and  beat  down  river.    At  1,  (from  its  be- 


1'27 


siTved  this  day, 


Tin)  broakfrs  exlpudiiii?  arross  this  !)ny  prospntnd,  ns  ihcy  always     Pf),'. 

do,  II  l()iini(lahl(.'  ii|)|H!uraii('(! ;  (imy,  however,  daslu'd  undauiileil- 

Iv  (i>rwar(l,  unci  soon  louiid  huiiscflf  on  a  broad  and  rapid  river, 

tfie  water  of  which  was  so  jHjrloctly  frosli  that  the  caslis  of  the 

Mliip  wero  filled  within  ten  miles  of  the  IVjfie.     On  the  llth  ho  M>iv  •> 

;i.s«'<!nded  the  stream  hy  a  chunnol  near  its  northern  l)aid<,  to  tho 

(listanee  of  ahont  twenty  miles  from  its  mouth,  beyond  which 

tlie  Columbia  could  not  advance  on  account  of  the  shallowness 

of  the  water.    At  this  point  ho  anchored,  and  remained  employed 

ill  trading  with  the  natives  and  making  repairs  until  the  iSth;  Mny  Ih 

ho  then  sailed  down  the  river,  and  on  the  2()th  passed  the  break-  Mny  "JO, 

crs,  at  its  entrance,  by  beating  through  them,  against  a  head  wind, 

into  the  ocean. 

On  leaving  the  river,  Captain  Gray  bestowed  upon  it  the  name 
of  his  ship;  the  extremity  of  the  land,  at  the  southern  side  of  its 
entrance,  was  called  by  him  Cape,  Affums;  and  the  appellation  of 
Cape  Hnnrnclc  was  substituted  for  that  of  Cape  Disappointment, 
which  had  been  given  by  Meares  to  the  opj)osite  promontory,  in 
token  of  the  unsuccessful  result  of  his  own  search.  Neither 
Cape  Adams  nor  Cape  Hancock  is  to  be  found  on  our  naps  at 
present;  and  the  Columbia  is  not  unfrequently  termed  tho  dreii-ou, 


ill','  VI  ry  s(iually,)  wo  cniiie  to,  about  two  miles  iVom  the  villnste,  {CMiwiik,]  which 
buff  we.■'l-^olllllWl'.st ;  iimny  nalivos  nlongsidL';  lii'sh  p;ales  and  sciiiaily. 

Mill/  17.— Flush  winds  and  s(inally  ;  many  ciiiun's  alongside  ;  calkers  calking  the 
pinnnc.' ;  seamen  paving  ihe  shiii's  sides  with  tar;  paiiiler  painting  ship;  smiths  and 
(.nrpeiiiers  at  tlu  ir  departinenls. 

Mai/  IK — I'liMsaiit  weather.  At  4  in  the  morning hegan  to  henvc  ahead;  at  half- 
pa^t  canif  in  s;iil,  sininling  down  river  with  the  ehh  tiile;  at  7  (being  slack  water 
nnii  ilie  wind  tliitteriiiu')  we  came  to  in  five  (athoni'S  saiuly  holtoni ;  tlie  entranee  be- 
I'veeii  the  liars  bore  souihwesi-by  west,  distance  thren  inilcs.  The  north  point  <.f 
ilie  liaibur  bore  riortliwest,  distant  two  miles;  the  soiiili  bore  southeast, distant  three 
niiil  a  hairiiiiles.  At  II  a  brce/e  sprung  up  I'roui  the  eastward  ;  took  up  the  anchor 
nnil  came  lo  sail,  Imi  the  wind  soon  came  lluilering  again  ;  came  tci  with  the  ki;dge 
mill  linwM'r ;  veered  out  liliy  fathoms.  Moon  jileasaiit.  Latitude  observed,  4()  de- 
i;ree^  17  minutes  noiili.  At  I  came  to  sail  with  the  fir.-t  oC  the  ebb-tide,  and 
ilrified  down  broad.^idc,  wiili  light  airs  and  strong  tide;  at  three-quarters  past, 
n  l'r(">h  wind  came  from  the  northward;  wore  ship  and  stood  into  the  river  again. 
At -1  came  to  in  si.x  laihoms;  good  holding-ground  about  six  or  seven  miles  up; 
m;iMV  cniiocs  alongside 

Mill/  lit, — Flesh  wind  und  dear  weather.  Karly  a  number  of  canoes  came  along- 
side ;  seamen  and  trndcsnien  employed  in  their  various  departments. 

Captain  Gray  gave  iliis  river  Itie  name  of  Columbia's  liivcr,  and  the  north  side  of 
the  ciiirniice  Oipe  Uamnck  ;  the  south,  Adavi^'s  Point. 

Miiij  !2;).— CiCMile  bree/e<  and  pleasant  weather.  At  1  r.  M.  (being  full  sea)  took 
ii|)  tlie  niiclior  and  made  sail,sinnding  down  river.  At  2  the  wind  I-  '"'  us,  we  being 
nil  tiie  bar  wiiii  a  vtixy  strong  lide  which  set  on  the  breakers  ;  it  w^s  i,,  (■■  not  possi- 
ble lo  act  out  wiihout  a  breeze;  to  shoot  her  across  the  tide  ,  so  we  •,,■  iv  obliged  to 
bring  up  in  three  and  a  half  laihoms,  the  tide  running  five  knots.  At  three  quarters 
pnsi  -J  a  li"sli  w  iiid  came  in  from  seaward;  we  immediately  came  to  sail  and  beat 
over  tiif-  bar,  having  from  live  to  seven  fathoms  water  in  the  channel.  At  5  v.  M. 
we  were  on',  clear  of  all  the  bars,  and  in  twenty  fathoms  w  ...■!.  A  breeze  came 
iViiMi  the  southward  ;  we  bore  away  to  the  noithward  ;  set  "'r  .-ail  to  the  best  advnn- 
liiire.  Ai  8  Ca]ie  Hancock  bore  southeast,  distant  three  k.igues;  the  north  extrem- 
ity of  the  land  in  sight  b(U'e  north-by-west.  At  9  in  .-lieering  and  top-gallant  sails. 
iVlidiiiijhi,  light  airs. 

Minj2\. — At  ()  .*.  M.  the  nearest  land  in  s;ght  bore  east-southeast,  distant  eight 
leagues.  At  7  set  top  gallant  sails  and  light  slay-sails.  At  11  set  steering-sails  fore 
.niul  aft.  Noon,  pleasant  agreeable  weather.  The  entrance  of  Bulfinch's  Harbor 
bure  southeast-hy  east  half  east,  distant  five  league.?. 


II  II 

•hi 
■'11 


I'll! 


:'il 


I 


% 


'i:  i 


128 


1T93.  upon  the  strength  of  some  vague  and  erroneous  rumors  which 
Captain  Carver  collected,  or  pretended  to  have  collected,  in  17C6, 
among  the  Indians  near  Lake  Superior,  respecting  a  river  Oregon, 
rising  in  the  vicinity  of  the  sources  of  the  Mississippi  and  Red 
Rivers,  and  emptying  into  the  Pacific  near  the  Strait  of  Fuca. 
It  must,  however,  be  acknowledged  that  Oregon  is,  in  all  re- 
spects, a  more  convenient  and  distinctive  name  than  the  other; 
and  it  has,  moreover,  the  merit  of  euphoniousness. 

Such  were  the  principal  circumstances  attending  the  discovery 
of  the  great  river  of  Northwest  America,  a  discoveiy  far  more  im- 
portant in  its  results  than  any  other  one  relating  to  that  part  of 
the  world,  inasmuch  as  it  has  afforded  the  means  of  comnmnicn- 
tion  between  the  ocean  and  every  section  of  one  of  the  most  fer- 
tile and  valuable  regions  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  It  has 
already  been  shown  that  the  opening  in  the  coast,  by  which  Gray 
entered  the  stream,  was  first  seen  in  1775  by  the  Spanish  naviga- 
tor Heceta;  that  it  was  examined  in  1788  by  Meares,  who  quit- 
ted it  with  the  conviction  that  no  river  passed  through  it  into 
the  ocean ;  and  that  this  last  opinion  was  adopted  without  quali- 
fication by  Vancouver,  after  he  had  minutely  explored  that  part 
of  the  coast,  "  under  the  most  favorable  conditions  of  wind  and 
weather."  Had  not  Gray  returned  to  the  search,  after  meeting 
with  the  English  ships,  the  existence  of  the  great  river  would 
doubtless  have  remained  unknown  for  a  much  longer  time,  as 
the  assertions  of  Vancouver  that  no  openins;  harbor,  or  place  of 
refuse  for  vessels,  was  to  be  found  between  Cape  Mendocino  and 
the  Strait  of  Fuca,  and  that  the  const  within  those  limits  ^^ formed 
one  compact,  solid,  and  nearly  straight  barrier  against  the  sea^' 
would  have  prevented  any  attempt  from  being  made  to  examine 
the  shores,  or  even  to  approach  them. 

With  regard  to  the  originality  of  Gray's  discovery,  Mr.  Irving 
says,  in  his  Astoria :  *  "  The  existence  of  this  river,  however,  was 
known  long  before  the  visits  of  Gray  and  Vancouver;  but  the  in- 
formation concerning  it  was  vague  and  indefinite,  being  gathered 
from  the  reports  of  the  Indians.  It  was  spoken  of  by  travellers  as 
the  Oregon,  and  as  the  Great  River  of  the  West.  A  Spanish  ship 
is  said  to  have  been  wrecked  at  its  mouth,  several  of  the  crew  of 
which  lived  for  some  time  among  the  natives."  Upon  these  as 
sertions  no  remark  will  be  made,  except  by  expressing  a  hope 
that  they  may  be  omitted  in  future  editions  of  Astoria,  or  that  the 
author  will  state  more  particularly  what  traveller  before  1792  has 
described  a  great  river  in  Northwest  America,  which  can  be 
identified  with  the  Columbia;  and  when  the  Spanish  ship  was 
wrecked  at  the  mouth  of  that  stream. 

The  plenipotentiaries  of  the  British  Government,  in  a  State- 
mcntf  presented  by  them  to  the  minister  of  the  United  States, 
during  a  negotiation  relative  to  Northwest  America  in  1S2G,  have 
endeavored  to  secure  the  merit  of  the  discovery  of  the  Columbia 


♦  Vol.  i.  page  35. 

t  See  documents  in  relation  to  the  bouiidary  of  the  United  States  wi'st  of  the 
Rocky  Mountain!*,  accompanying  the  President's  message  of  t'ccembur  {2,  I8i7. 


to— TWean 
being  exti 
facts  are 
statement 

«  Great 
fore  Gray 
a  lieutena 
India  Cor 
America, 
to  the  45t 
of  the  Stri 
chased  lai 
had  actuj 
headland 
a  name  w 

"  Dixor 
ders,  had 
before  Gn 
Gray's  ck 
mentionec 

"  It  ma 
Meares,  tl 
don  in  Ai 
tended  to 

"To  til 
book ;  sec 
in  which 
of  the  Co 
entered,) 
every  par 
the  descr 
world,  ad 
actually  c 
trance  of ' 
1788,  by 

"  With 
less  to  CO 
Meares 's 

"  It  wa 
ington,  c 
Nootka. 

» If,  th 
Britain  a 
the  disco 
establish 
to  be  sha 

"  It  mi 
in  the  ba 
bia  into  t 
the  outle 
tenant  M 
same  bay 


rumors  which 
3Cted,  ill  1766, 
I  river  Oregon, 
sippi  and  Red 
trait  of  Fuca. 
^.  is,  in  all  re- 
lan  the  other; 

the  discovery 
y  far  more  im- 

to  that  part  of 
)f  commnnica- 
f  the  most  fer- 
itains.  It  has 
)y  which  Gray 
panish  iiaviga- 
ires,  who  quit- 
:irough  it  into 
without  quali- 
lored  that  part 
is  of  wind  and 
,  after  meeting 
at  river  would 
onger  time,  as 
•Ao/-,  or  place  of 
Mendocino  and 
limits  ^^ formed 
ai/itit  the  sc«,'' 
ade  to  examine 

ery,  Mr.  Irving 
•,  however,  was 
rev ;  hut  the  in- 
heing  gathered 
by  travellers  as 
A.  Spanish  ship 
of  the  crew  of 
Upon  these  as 
ressing  a  hope 
nria,  or  tliat  the 
before  1T92  has 
which  can  be 
aiiish  ship  was 

;nt,  in  a  Slaf.c- 

United  States, 

a  in  182G,  have 

f  the  Columbia 


Stales  wi'st  of  the 
cceinbur  12,  ISil, 


129 

to — Mcares!  Their  account  of  the  circumstances  is  worthy  of 
being  extracted,  as  affording  a  specimen  of  the  manner  in  which 
facts  are  related,  and  deductions  are  drawn  from  them.  In  that 
statement  the  plenipotentiaries  say : 

"Great  Britain  can  show  that  in  178S,  that  is,  four  years  be- 
fore Gray  entered  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia  River,  Mr.  Meares, 
a  lieutenant  of  the  royal  navy,  who  had  been  sent  by  the  East 
India  Company  on  a  trading  expedition  to  the  northwest  coast  of 
America,  had  already  minutely  explored  that  coast,  from  the  49th 
to  the  45th  degree  of  north  latitude ;  had  taken  formal  possession 
of  the  Straits  of  De  Fuca,  in  the  name  of  his  Sovereign ;  had  pur- 
chased land,  trafficked,  and  formed  treaties  with  the  natives ;  and 
had  actually  entered  the  Bay  of  the  Columbia,  to  the  northern 
headland  of  which  he  gave  the  name  of  Cape  Disappointment — 
a  name  which  it  bears  to  this  day. 

"Dixon,  Scott,  Duncan,  Strange,  and  other  private  British  tra- 
ders, had  also  visited  these  shores  and  countries  several  years 
before  Gray  ;  but  the  single  example  of  Meares  suffices  to  quash 
Gray's  claim  to  prior  discovery.  To  the  other  navigators  above 
mentioned,  therefore,  it  is  unnecessary  to  refer  more  particularly. 

"  It  may  be  worth  while,  however,  to  observe,  with  regard  to 
Meares,  that  his  account  of  his  voyages  was  published  in  Lon- 
don in  August,  1790 ;  that  is,  two  years  before  Gray  is  even  pre- 
tended to  have  entered  the  Columbia. 

"  To  that  account  are  appended,  first,  extracts  firom  his  log- 
book ;  secondly,  maps  of  the  coasts  and  harbors  which  he  visited, 
in  which  every  part  of  the  coast  in  question,  including  the  Bay 
of  the  Columbia,  (into  which  the  log  expressly  states  that  Meares 
entered,)  is  minutely  laid  down,  its  delineation  tallying  in  almost 
every  particular  with  Vancouver's  subsequent  survey,  and  with 
the  description  found  in  all  the  best  maps  of  that  part  of  the 
world,  adopted  at  this  moment ;  thirdly,  the  account  in  question 
actually  contains  an  engraving,  dated  in  August,  1790,  of  the  en- 
trance of  De  Fuca's  Straits,  executed  after  a  design  taken  in  June, 
1788,  by  Merges  himself. 

"  With  these  physical  evidences  of  authenticity,  it  is  as  need- 
less to  contend  for,  as  it  is  impossible  to  controvert,  the  truth  of 
Meares's  statement. 

"It  was  only  on  the  17th  of  September,  1788,  that  the  Wash- 
ington, commanded  by  Mr.  Gray,  first  made  her  appearance  at 
Nootka. 

"  If,  therefore,  any  claim  to  these  countries,  as  between  Great 
Britain  and  the  United  States,  is  to  be  deduced  from  priority  of 
the  discovery,  the  above  exposition  of  dates  and  facts  suffices  to 
establish  that  claim  in  favor  of  Great  Britain  on  a  basis  too  firm 
to  be  shaken. 

"  It  must,  indeed,  be  admitted,  that  Mr.  Gray,  finding  himself 
in  the  bay  formed  by  the  discharge  of  the  waters  of  the  Colum- 
bia into  the  Pacific,  was  the  first  to  ascertain  that  this  bay  formed 
the  outlet  of  a  great  river ;  a  discovery  which  had  escaped  Lieu- 
tenant Meares,  when  in  1788,  four  years  before,  he  entered  the 
same  bay." 


179-J 


I  i; 


wi 


■!■   I! 


130 

I'Qi:.  In  reply  to  which,  it  will  be  unnecessary  to  do  more  than  refer 
to  the  words  of  Meares  himself,  as  contained  in  his  Journal,  and 
as  previously  quoted  in  this  memoir,  page  93,  where  he  declares 
that  he  sought  for  the  River  Saint  Roc,  laid  down  on  the  Span- 
ish maps  as  entering  the  Pacific  about  the  latitude  of  46  degrees 
10  minutes ;  that  he  entered  a  bay  in  that  latitude,  and  became 
convinced  from  his  examinations  that  no  such  river  existed ;  and 
that,  in  token  of  the  unsuccessfuluess  of  his  search,  he  had  called 
the  bay  Deception  Bay,  and  the  headland  on  its  northern  side 
Cope  Disappointment.  That  "  Mr.  Gray  was  the  first  to  ascer- 
tain that  this  bay  formed  the  outlet  of  a  great  river,"  is  all  that 
is  claimed  for  him;  for  that  ascertainment  constituted  the  dis- 
covery of  the  Columbia,  which  had  undoubtedly  "  escaped  Lieu- 
tenant Meares,  when  in  1788,  four  years  before,  he  entered  the 
same  bay." 

May.  From  the  Columbia  river.  Gray  sailed  to  the  part  of  the  sea 
between  Queen  Charlotte's  Island  and  the  continent,  the  coasts 
of  which  were  then  much  frequented  by  the  fur-traders,  particu- 
larly by  those  from  the  United  States.  In  the  northern  part  of 
this  sea,  his  ship  suddenly  struck  upon  a  rock,  while  she  was 
under  full  sail,  and  was  near  foundering  in  consequence ;  she, 
however,  succeeded  in  reaching  Nootka  Sound  on  the  21st  of 
July,  where  the  damage  was  soon  repaired.  At  Nootka,  Gray 
found  in  command  of  the  Spanish  establishment  Don  Juan 
Francisco  de  la  Bodega  y  Quadra,  who  had  arrived  from  Mexi- 
co in  the  capacity  of  commissioner,  to  surrender  to  Vancouver 
the  lands  and  buildings  designated  in  the  first  article  of  the  con- 
vention of  October,  1790.  To  this  officer  the  American  captain 
immediately  communicated  the  results  of  his  examinations,  which 
were  substantiated  by  charts  of  Bulfinch's  harbor  and  of  the  Co- 
lumbia river;  and  he  thus  fortunately  secured  an  unimpeachable 
witness  in  support  of  his  claims  to  the  discovery  of  those  places. 
Meanwhile  the  surveys  of  the  Strait  of  Fuca  were  in  prog- 
ress.    From  Cape  Flattery,  the  point  at  the  southern  side  of  its 

May  1.  entrance,  Vancouver  took  his  departure  on  the  1st  of  May,  and 
sailed  along  its  southern  shore  eastward,  to  the  distance  of  about 
a  hundred  miles,  where  he  found  a  secure  harbor,  named  by  him 
Port  Discover}/,  and  a  little  farther  on  a  wide  bay,  with  passages 
extending  from  it  in  various  directions.  He  first  entered  a  pas- 
sage opening  towards  the  south,  which  he  named  Admiralty  In- 
let, and  explored  it  to  its  termination,  about  a  himdred  miles  from 
the  strait,  in  a  bay  called  by  him  PugeVs  Sound,  in  compliment 
to  one  of  the  lieutenants  of  the  Discovery.  After  surveying  this 
arm  completely,  the  officers  of  both  ships  landed  at  a  spot  near 
its  entrance,  on  the  4th  of  June,  the  birthday  of  their  Sovereign, 
and  in  his  name  took  possession,  "  with  the  usual  formalities, 
of  all  that  part  of  New  Albion,  from  the  latitude  of  39  degrees  20 
minutes  south,  and  longitude  236  degrees  26  minutes  east,  to  the 
entrance  of  the  inlet  of  the  sea,  said  to  be  the  supposed  Strait  of 
Juan  de  Fuca,  as  also  of  all  the  coasts,  islands,  &,c.,  Avithin  the 
said  strait,  and  both  its  shores ;"  to  which  region  they  gave  the 
appellation  of  New  Georgia.    With  regard  to  this  ceremony  it 


may  be  oi 
be  minu 
Vancouv( 
vention  ( 
stipulatio 
of  Amerii 
Spanish  i 
claim  of  i 
be  valid  ( 

After  e 
lets  on  tl 
passed  b] 
tensive  a 
other  ves! 
icana,  coi 
as  before 
vanced  tl 
shores, 
vexatious 
civility,  r 
observati( 
tinned  in 
explored 
tioned,  ci 
English  t 
of  this  gi 
passed  th 
stone\s  ISl 
the  10th 
or  Pintai 
ofNootkj 

On  the 
where  he 
the  fact  tl 
was  men 
continent 
tory  then 
was  situa 
cers  agre< 
and  it  ha 
the  long 
Island,  w 
of  the  wc 
the  Britis 

The  S 
same  chr 
and  on  tl 
sailed  foi 
their  voy 


♦  It 


ore  than  refer 
Journal,  and 
re  lie  declares 
on  the  Span- 
of  46  degrees 
!,  and  became 
•  existed ;  and 
he  had  called 
northern  side 
first  to  ascer- 
ir,"  is  all  that 
uted  the  dis- 
escnped  Lien- 
e  entered  the 

irt  of  the  sea 
nit,  the  coasts 
xders,  particu- 
)rthern  part  of 
v^hile  she  was 
jquence ;  she, 
n  the  21st  of 
Nootka,  Gray 
nt  Don  Juan 
!d  fi'orn  Mexi- 
to  Vancouver 
Je  of  the  con- 
erican  captain 
rations,  whicli 
ind  of  the  Co- 
in impeachable 
f  those  places, 
were  in  prog- 
ern  side  of  its 
it  of  May,  and 
tance  of  about 
named  by  him 
with  passages 
mtered  a  pas- 
Admiralty  In- 
red  miles  from 
n  compliment 
surveying  this 
at  a  spot  near 
leir  Sovereign, 
jal  formalities, 
"39  degrees  20 
tes  east,  to  the 
posed  Strait  of 
;c.,  within  the 
they  gave  the 
s  ceremony  it 


131 

may  be  observed,  that,  although  naval  officers  are  not  expected  to  179'2. 
be  minutely  acquainted  with  diplomatic  affairs,  yet  Captain 
Vancouver,  who  was  sent  to  the  north  Pacific  to  enforce  the  con- 
vention of  October,  1790,  should  have  recollected  that,  by  the 
stipulations  of  that  convention,  every  part  of  the  nortliwest  coast 
of  America  was  rendereJ  fnr!  and  open  for  trade  or  settlement  to 
Spanish  as  well  as  Britk^h  subjects;  and  that,  consequently,  no  - 
claim  of  sovereignty  on  the  part  of  either  of  those  nations  could 
be  valid  over  any  section  of  the  territory. 

After  exploring  to  their  terminations,  in  like  manner,  many  in- 
lets on  the  eastern  and  southern  sides  of  the  bay,  the  British 
passed  by  an  opening  towards  the  northwest,  into  another  ex- 
tensive arm  of  the  sea,  where  they  unexpectedly  met  with  two  June  i:{. 
other  vessels.  These  were  the  Spanish  schooners  Sutil  and  Mex- 
icana,  commanded  by  Lieutenants  Galiano  and  Valdes,  who  had, 
as  before  mentioned,  left  Nootka  on  the  4th  of  June,  and  had  ad- 
vanced thus  far  on  their  survey  of  the  strait,  along  its  northern 
shores.  The  meeting  between  the  two  parties  was  doubtless 
vexatious  to  both  ;  they,  however,  treated  each  other  with  great 
civility,  mutually  exhibiting  their  charts,  and  comparing  thoir 
observations ;  and  having  agreed  to  unite  their  labors,  they  con- 
tinued in  company  nearly  a  month,  during  which  they  minutely 
explored  the  shores  of  the  extensive  arm  of  the  sea  above  men- 
tioned, called  by  the  Spaniards  Canal  del  Rosario,  and  by  the 
English  the  Gttl/of  Georgia.  From  the  northwestern  extremity  July  i;;. 
of  this  gulf,  the  British,  taking  leave  of  their  Spanish  friends, 
passed  through  a  long  and  intricate  channel,  called  by  them  John- 
stone's  Strait,  westward  into  the  Pacific,  which  they  entered  on 
the  10th  of  August,  near  the  5lst  parallel,  by  Queen  Charlotte's  Ausnsi. 
or  Pintard's  Sound,  about  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles  north 
of  Nootka. 

On  the  28th  of  the  same  month  Vancouver  arrived  at  Nootka, 
where  he  communicated  to  the  Spanish  commissioner,  Q.uadra, 
the  fact  thus  established  by  him,  that  the  supposed  Strait  of  Fuca 
was  merely  an  arm  of  the  Pacific,  separating  from  the  American 
continent  a  great  island,  on  the  western  side  of  which  the  terri- 
tory then  occupied  by  the  Spaniards,  and  claimed  by  the  British, 
was  situated.  The  fact  being  admitted  by  Quadra,  the  two  offi- 
cers agreed  that  the  island  should  bear  the  names  of  them  both ; 
and  it  has  accordingly  ever  since  been  distinguished  on  maps  by 
the  long  and  inconvenient  appellation  of  Quadra  and  Vancouver 
Island,  which  it  will  scarcely  be  allowed  to  retain  when  that  part 
of  the  world  becomes  settled  by  a  civilized  people.  In  justice  to 
the  British  navigator,  it  should  be  Vancouver's  Island. 

The  Sutil  and  Mexicana  likewise  entered  the  Pacific  by  the 
same  channel  through  which  Vancouver's  ships  had  penetrateti, 
and  on  the  30th  of  August  they  arrived  at  Nootka,  whence  they 
sailed  for  Monterey  on  the  4th  of  September.  The  Journal*  of 
their  voyage,  to  which  references  have  been  so  frequently  made 

♦  In  one  vol.  octavo  of  340  pages,  with  an  alias  of  seventeen  plates. 


:;;!;• 


!■'  '  SI 


I   I 
1!i 


iri . 


I, 

M 
I. 

iji 


1        \ 


132 


17J2.  in  the  foregoing  pages,  was  published  at  Madrid  in  1802,  by  order 
of  the  Spanish  Government,  under  the  direction  of  Don  Martin 
Fernandez  de  Navarrete,  the  chiefof  the  Hydrographical  Depart- 
ment, who  prefixed  to  it  an  Introduction  containing  an  historical 
sketch  of  the  discoveries  of  the  Spaniards  upon  the  west  coast  of 
North  America.  This  Introduction,  occupying  nearly  the  half  of 
the  work,  is  the  only  part  of  it  which  has  any  value;  the  meagre 
and  uninteresting  details  furnished  by  Galiano  and  Valdes  being 
entirely  superseded  by  the  ample  and  luminous  accounts  of  Van- 
couver. The  statements  of  Navarrete,  in  his  historical  sketch, 
are  derived  from  original  sources;  and  he  has  conveyed  to  the 
world  information  on  various  points  relating  to  the  northwest 
coasts,  which  would  otherwise  have  remained  buried  in  the  ar- 
chives of  the  Council  of  the  Indies.  The  work  should,  however, 
be  read  with  much  caution,  as  it  abounds  in  errors,  the  greater 
number  of  which  are  evidently  not  the  results  either  of  ignorance 
or  of  accident ;  while  false  impressions  are  attempted  to  be  made 
in  almost  every  page,  by  the  studied  silence  of  the  writer  with 
regard  to  facts  contrary  to  the  views  or  objects  of  those  by  whose 
orders  it  was  published. 

Aug.  30.  Immediately  after  the  arrival  of  Vancouver  at  Nootka,  negotia- 
tions were  commenced  between  him  and  Quadra  respecting  the 
transfer  of  the  territories  claimed  by  Great  Britain.  The  whole 
object  of  the  busine;-'^  was  to  ascertain  iv/iat  lands  on  the  nortk- 
icest  coast  of  America  were  m  the  possession  of  British  subjects, 
and  what  buildings  were  standing  on  those  lands  in  May,  1789, 

Sept.  tvheti  the  Spaniards^first  occupied  Nootka.  For  the  determination 
of  these  questions  the  commissioners  were,  or  appeared  to  be,  as 
before  said,  entirely  unprovided  with  instructions  fi:om  their  Gov- 
ernments ;  and  they  were  thus  left  to  form  their  own  conclusions, 
upon  such  evidence  as  they  could  collect. 

With  this  view  Quadra  had  first  applied  to  Maquinna  and  his 
principal  men,  who  denied  that  any  lands  had  been  bought,  or 
any  houses  had  been  built,  by  the  English  at  Nootka,  in  1789,  or 
at  any  other  time.  As  the  testimony  of  the  savages,  however, 
could  not  be  considered  of  much  value,  the  Spaniard  addressed 
his  inquiries,  as  above  mentioned,  to  Messrs.  Gray  and  Ingraham, 
and  to  Viana,  the  Portuguese  captain  or  mate  of  the  Iphigenia, 
all  of  whom  happened  to  be  at  Nootka  in  the  summer  of  1792. 
The  American  captains  sent  in  reply  a  long  and  circumstantial 
account*  of  all  the  occurrences  connected  with  the  subject  of  the 
discussion,  which  they  had  themselves  witnessed.  In  it  they 
declare,  that  although  they  had  remained  at  Nootka  nine  months, 
(including  the  period  of  the  arrival  of  Martinez,)  during  which 
time  they  were  in  habits  of  constant  intercourse  with  Maquinna 
and  his  people,  they  had  never  heard  of  any  purchase  of  land  on 
the  coast  by  British  subjects ;  and  that  the  only  building  seen 
by  them,  when  they  reached  the  sound,  was  a  hut  consisting  of 
rough  posts,  covered  with  boards  made  by  the  Indians,  which 


♦  See  Appendix— [D.] 


had  been 

These  sti 

and  the  S 

sion,  thai 

placed,  bij 

quence  a 

the  latter 

from  Gra] 

time  ofier 

between  ( 

spot  of  gi 

occupied 

tivated  la 

derstandii 

Catholic  ] 

was  to  be 

iards,  to  \ 

longed  ex 

Vancou 
the  first  a 
trymen  />< 
Clyomiot; 
Quadra,  ( 
Spaniard's 
any  discu; 
In  this  c( 
Duffin,  th 
at  Nootka 
in  a  lettei 
stated — th 
chase  by  ' 
ing  Frieui 
some  tririi 
nic  Majosi 
and  shedi 
good  rcpai 
derstood  1 
Spaniards 

Upon  1 
nounced 
tirely  false 
to  animad 
"the  wilfi 
of  British 
preceding 
the  truth 
the  exten 
ter  of  Graj 
synopsis 
It  will  thi 
of  the  Am 
whatever 


133 


liad  been  entirely  destroyed  before  the  entrance  of  the  Spaniards.  1792. 
These  statements  were  in  ail  points  confirmed  by  those  of  Viana;  Sepiemb. 
and  the  Spanish  commissioner  was  thereupon  led  to  the  conchi- 
sion,  that  no  lands  wei'e  to  be  restored,  and  no  buildings  to  be  ?•€• 
placed,  by  Spain.  A  communication  to  that  eft'ect  was  in  conse- 
quence addressed  by  him  to  Vancouver,  soon  after  the  arrival  of 
the  latter  at  Nootka,  accompanied  by  copies  of  the  letters  received 
from  Gray  and  Ingraham  and  Viana.  He,  however,  at  the  same 
time  offered,  for  the  sake  of  removing  all  causes  of  disagreement 
between  the  two  nations,  to  surrender  to  the  English  the  small 
spot  of  ground  on  Friendly  Cove,  which  had  been  temporarily 
occupied  by  Meares,  to  give  up  for  their  use  the  houses  and  cul- 
tivated lands,  and  to  retire  to  the  Strait  of  Fuca ;  with  the  un- 
derstanding, that  this  cession  was  not  to  affect  the  rights  of  his 
Catholic  Majesty  to  the  dominion  of  the  territory ,  and  that  Nootka 
was  to  be  considered  as  the  most  northern  settlement  of  the  Span- 
iards, to  whom  the  whole  coast  and  country  lying  south  of  it  be- 
longed exclusively. 

Vancouver,  on  the  other  hand,  had  thought  proper  to  construe 
the  first  article  of  the  convention  of  1790  as  giving  to  his  coun- 
trymen possession  of  the  whole  territory  surrounding  Nootka  and 
Clyorniot;  and  he  therefore  refused  to  receive  what  was  offered  by 
Quadra,  declaring,  with  regard  to  the  concluding  part  of  the 
Spaniard's  proposition,  that  he  was  not  authorized  to  enter  into 
any  discussion  as  to  the  rights  or  claims  of  the  respective  nations. 
In  this  conviction  he  was  supported  by  the  evidence  of  Robert 
Duflin,  the  former  mate  of  the  Argonaut,  who  happened  to  arrive 
at  Nootka  while  the  negotiation  was  in  progress.  This  person, 
in  a  letter  of  which  Vancouver  gives  a  synopsis  in  his  journal, 
stated — that  he  had  himself  been  present  in  May,  1788,  at  the  pur- 
chase by  Meares,  from  Maquinna,  of  the  whole  of  the  land  form- 
ing Friendly  Cove,  Nootka  Sound,  for  eight  sheets  of  copper  and 
some  trifling  things  ;  that  the  purchase  was  made  in  his  Britan- 
nic Majesty's  name,  and  under  the  British  flag;  and  that  houses 
and  sheds  were  built  on  the  spot  by  Meares,  who  left  them  in 
good  repair  on  his  departure  for  China;  though  he  (Duflin)  un- 
derstood that  no  vestige  of  these  buildings  remained  when  the 
Spaniards  took  possession  of  the  sound. 

Upon  the  strength  of  this  evidence.  Captain  Vancouver  pro- 
nounced the  assertions  of  Messrs.  Gray  and  Ingraham  to  be  en- 
tirely false;  and  he  takes  occasion,  in  several  parts  of  his  journal, 
to  animadvert  in  severe  language  upon  what  he  is  pleased  to  term 
"  the  wilful  misrepresentations  of  the  Americans,  to  the  prejudice 
of  British  subjects."  Means  have  already  been  afforded  in  the 
preceding  chapter  for  judging  with  regard  to  the  probability  of 
the  truth  of  Duffin's  assertions ;  and  some  idea  may  be  formed  of 
the  extent  of  Captain  Vancouver's  candor,  by  comparing  the  let- 
ter of  Gray  and  Ingraham,  as  given  in  the  Appendix,  [D,]  with  the 
synopsis  of  it  contained  in  the  journal  of  the  English  navigator. 
It  will  thus  be  seen,  that  in  Vancouver's  synopsis  the  evidence 
of  the  Americans  is  garbled  in  the  most  unfair  manner ;  and  that 
whatever  could  tend  to  place  the  British  or  their  cause  in  an  un- 
10 


I  ::   I 


■!^ 


M 

'':i!i 


\\\ 


m 


■1'  ti 


134 


1793.  favorable  light,  is  made  to  disappear  by  artful  suppressions  and 
Scptemb.  alterations.  The  bitterness  of  Vancouver  towards  Gray  and  In- 
graham  may,  perhaps,  be  accounted  for,  in  part  at  least,  by  the 
circumstance,  that  on  his  arrival  at  Nootka  he  learned  the  suc- 
cess of  Gray's  search  for  a  great  river,  on  the  very  coast  which  he 
had  himself,  diligently,  as  he  thought,  but  vainly,  explored  with 
the  same  object. 

The  negotiations*  between  the  commissioners  were  continued 
during  the  greater  part  of  September;  until  at  length,  finding  it 
impossible  to  effect  any  arrangement  of  the  business  intrusted  to 
them,  they  agreed  to  submit  the  whole  affair,  with  such  addi- 
tional information  as  they  had  been  able  t©  obtain,  to  their  re- 


*  The  preceding  sketch  of  the  negotiation  between  Vancouver  and  Cluadra  is  de- 
rived Jroin  the  journals  of  Vancouver,  Galiano  and  Valdes,  and  Ingraham.  Ingra- 
iiarn  obtained  his  information  principally  from  Mr.  Howel,  the  supercargo  of  the 
American  brig  Margaret,  (j)reviously  a  clergyman  of  the  Church  of  England,)  who 
acted  as  translator  for  the  Spanish  commissioner,  and  saw  the  whole  of  the  corres- 
pondence. He  drew  up  lor  Ingraham  a  written  statement,  which  is  given  at  length 
in  the  journal  of  the  American  captam,  and  of  which  the  following  is  an  extract : 

"  The  indefinite  mode  of  expression  adopted  by  Messrs.  Fitzherbert  and  Florida 
Blanca  did  not  athx  any  boundaries  to  the  ce^tsion  expected  by  Great  Britain ;  what 
the  buildings  were,  or  what  waa  the  extent  of  the  tract  of  land  to  be  restored,  the 
plenipotentiaries  did  not  think  proper  to  determine.  Don  Juan  Francisco,  having 
no  better  guide,  collected  the  be*t  evidence  he  could  procure,  and  thnt  could  enable 
him  to  determine  what  were  the  lands  and  buildings  of  which  the  British  subjects 
were  dispossessed,  and  which  the  tenor  of  the  first  article  of  the  convention  alone 
authorized  him  to  restore.  The  result  of  this  investigation,  in  which  he  was  much 
aided  by  your  communication,  supported  by  the  uniform  declarations  of  Maqninna 
and  his  tribe,  sufficiently  evinced  that  the  tract  was  a  small  corner  of  Friendly  Cove, 
and,  to  use  the  words  of  Captain  Vancouver,  little  more  than  a  hundred  yards  in  ex- 
tent anyway;  and  the  buildings,  according  to  your  information,  dwindled  to  one 
hut.  Seilor Cluadra,  having  ascertained  the  limits  usually  occupied  by  Mr.  Meares 
or  his  servants,  was  ever  ready  to  deliver  it  in  behalf  of  his  Catholic  Majesty  to  any 
envoy  from  the  British  Court.  Captain  Vancouver  arrived  at  Nootka  Sound  in  the 
latter  end  of  August;  and  Sefior  Q,uadra  wrote  to  him  on  the  subject  ol  their  re- 
spective orders,  and  enclosed  your  letter,  togeihet  with  one  from  a  Captain  Viana,  a 
Portuguese,  who  passed  as  captain  of  the  Iphigenia,  when  she  was  detained  by  the 
Spaniards.  Don  Juan  Francisco,  in  his  letter,  avowed  his  readiness  to  put  Captain 
Vancouver  in  possession  of  the  tract  of  land  where  Mr.  Meares's  house  once  stood, 
which  alone  could  be  that  ceded  to  Great  Britain  by  the  convention.  Sefior  Q.uadra 
offered,  likewise,  to  leave  for  his  accommodation  all  the  houses,  gardens,  &c.,  which 
had  been  made  at  the  expense  of  his  Catholic  Majesty,  as  he  intended  leaving  the 
port  immediately.  In  the  same  letter,  he  tendered  Captain  Vancouver  nffein  of 
every  service  and  assistance  which  hospitality  or  benevolence  could  dictate.  Cap- 
tain Vancouver,  in  reply,  gratefully  acknowledged  the  intended  favors,  but  entirely 
dis.sented  from  the  boundaries  affixed  by  Scilor  Cluadra  to  the  tract  of  land,  of  which 
he  was  to  receive  the  possession  and  property;  and  in  pursuance  of  his  directions, 
interpreted  the  first  article  as  a  cession  of  this  port,  viz:  Nootka  Sound,  in  Mo,  to- 
gether  with  Clyoquot  or  Port  Cox.  He  disclaimed  all  retrospective  discussion  of  the 
rights,  preti;nsions,  &c.,  of  the  two  courts,  and  also  of  the  actual  possessitons  of  Brit- 
ish subjects  in  Nootka  Sound,  deeming  it  irrelevant  to  the  business  he  was  author- 
ized to  transact,  and  only  to  be  settled  by  the  respective  Monarchs.  The  letters 
which  followed  on  both  sides  were  merely  a  reiteration  of  the  foregoing  proposals 
and  demands.  SeiiorCluadra  invited  to  a  discussion  of  the  boundaries,  &c.,  and  sup- 
ported his  evidence  with  well-grounded  reasoning;  yet  Captain  Vancouver  steadily 
adhered  to  the  demands  he  first  made,  and  refused  every  kind  of  discus.sion.  The 
definitive  letter  from  Seiior  Cluadra  was  transmitted  on  the  15th  of  September;  but 
it  being  of  the  same  nature  with  the  preceding  ones.  Captain  Vancouver  only  re- 
plied by  a  repetition  of  his  former  avowal,  and  informing  the  Spanish  commandant 
that  he  could  receive  on  the  part  of  his  master,  the  King  of  Britain,  no  other  terri- 
tories than  those  he  had  pointed  out  in  his  other  letters,  with  which,  if  SefJor  Q,uadra 
did  not  comply,  he  must  retain  them  for  his  Catholic  Majesty  until  the  respective 
Courts  should  determine  what  further  proceedings  tliey  might  deem  necessary." 


spective  i 
being,  in 
couver  at 
with  accc 
he  sailed 
his  own  ! 
ton;  and 
Lieutenai 
parted  for 
charge  ol 
Hope  din 
Vancou 
him  char 
by  Gray  i 
from  the  J 
the  entrar 
Lieutenar 
with  the  ( 
river  the  < 
The  Disc( 
ing  convit 
sible  to  la: 
winds  anc 
where  he 
separation 
united  at 
the  reports 
Whidbe 
than  than 
appears  th 
important, 
affords  a  s 
on  its  sho; 
it  is  the  01 
the  Strait 
such  circi 
ployed  to 
been  alrea 
on  British 
although  ^ 
Gray  the  r 
Broughi 
the  Chath 
prise,  foun 
had  sailed 
had  the  C 
the  channi 
to  leave  hi 
ceed  up  th 
regard  to 
given  in  t 
The  po 


?ssions  and 
ray  and  In- 
east,  by  the 
ed  the  swc- 
st  which  he 
tplored  with 

e  continued 

h,  finding  it 

intrusted  to 

such  addi- 

to  their  re- 


d  Q,uadra  is  de- 
;raham.    Ingra- 
ipercargo  of  the 
I"  England,)  who 
le  of  the  corres- 
*  given  ai  length 
is  an  exirncl: 
bert  and  Florida 
il  Britain;  what 
)  be  restored,  the 
rancisco,  having 
hat  could  enable 
!  British  subjects 
!onvention  alone 
ich  he  was  much 
)ns  of  Maqninna 
if  Friendly  Cove, 
dred  yards  in  ex- 
dwindled  to  one 
d  by  Mr.  Meares 
ic  Majesty  to  any 
)tka  Sound  in  the 
ibjcct  ol  their  re- 
Captain  Viana,  a 
s  detained  by  the 
ss  to  put  Captain 
house  once  stood, 
Sefior  Cluadra 
rdens,  &c.,  which 
nded  leaving  the 
acouver  offers  of 
ild  dictate.    Cap- 
,vors,  but  entirely 
of  land,  of  which 
of  his  directions, 
Sound,  in  loto,  to- 
!  discussion  of  the 
ossessibns  of  Brit- 
ss  he  was  aulhor- 
chs.    The  letters 
regoing  proposals 
Ties,  &c.,  and  sup- 
ancouver  steadily 
discus.sion.    The 
)f  September;  but 
ancouver  only  re- 
nish  commandant 
tin,  no  other  lerri- 
I,  if  Seiior  ttuadra 
nil  the  respective 
;m  necessary." 


135 

spective  Governments,  and  to  await  further  instructions ;  Nootka  ito2. 
being,  in  the  mean  time,  considered  as  a  Spanish  port.  Van- 
couver accordingly  despatched  one  of  his  lieutenants  to  England 
with  accounts  of  the  transactions ;  and  in  the  early  part  of  October  Oct.  12. 
he  sailed  towards  the  south,  with  three  vessels — the  Discovery ; 
his  own  ship,  the  Chatham,  commanded  by  Lieutenant  Brough- 
ton ;  and  the  Doedalus,  which  had  recently  joined  him  under 
Lieutenant  Whidbey.  About  the  same  time  Captain  Quadra  de- 
parted for  Monterey,  leaving  the  settlement  at  Nootka  under  the 
charge  of  Pidalgo ;  and  the  American  ship  Columbia  and  brig 
Hope  directed  their  course  homeward  by  way  of  Canton. 

Vancouver  quitted  Nootka  on  the  13th  of  October,  taking  with  Oct.  13. 
him  charts  and  descriptions  of  the  harbor  and  river  discovered 
by  Gray  in  the  preceding  April,  of  which  he  had  received  copies 
from  the  Spanish  commissioner,  Quadra.  On  the  18th  he  reached 
the  entrance  of  Bulfinch's  Harbor,  to  explore  which  he  detached 
Lieutenant  Whidbey  in  the  Doedalus,  while  he  himself  proceeded 
with  the  other  vessels  to  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia.  Into  that 
river  the  Chatham,  with  great  difficulty,  penetrated  on  the  20th. 
The  Discovery  was  unable  to  cross  the  bar,  and  Vancouver,  be- 
ing convinced  from  his  observations  that  the  stream  was  inacces- 
sible to  large  ships,  "  except  in  very  fine  weather,  with  moderate 
winds  and  a  smooth  sea,"  he  sailed  to  the  bay  of  San  Francisco, 
where  he  had  ordered  the  other  officers  to  join  him  in  case  of 
separation.  In  December  following  the  whole  squadron  was  re- 
united at  Monterey,  where  Whidbey  and  Broughton  presented 
the  reports  of  their  observations. 

Whidbey's  account  of  Bulfinch's  Harbor  was  less  favorable 
than  than  of  Gray.  From  the  statements  of  both,  however,  it 
appears  that  the  place  possesses  advantages  which  must  render  it 
important,  whenever  the  surrounding  region  becomes  settled.  It 
affords  a  safe  retreat  for  small  vessels,  and  there  are  several  spots 
on  its  shore  where  boats  may  land  without  difficulty ;  moreover, 
it  is  the  only  harbor  on  the  coast,  between  Cape  Me?  docino  and 
the  Strait  of  Fuca,  except  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia;  and  under 
such  circumstances,  labor  and  ingenuity  will  certainly  be  em- 
ployed to  correct  and  improve  what  nature  has  offered.  It  has 
been  already  remarked,  that  the  place  is  generally  distinguished 
on  British,  and  even  on  American  maps,  as  Whidbey^s  Harbor y 
sdthough  Vancouver  himself  has  not  pretended  to  withhold  from 
Gray  the  merit  of  discovering  it. 

Broughton,  as  before  mentioned,  entered  the  Columbia  with  Oct.  20. 
the  Chatham  on  the  20th  of  October ;  and  he  there,  to  his  sur- 
prise, found  lying  at  anchor  the  brig  Jenny,  from  Bristol,  which 
had  sailed  from  Nootka  Sound  a  few  days  previous.  Scarcely 
had  the  Chatham  effected  an  entrance,  ere  she  ran  aground;  ana 
the  channel  proved  to  be  so  intricate,  that  Broughton  determined 
to  leave  his  vessel  about  four  miles  from  the  mouth,  and  to  pro-  Oct.  24. 
ceed  up  the  stream  in  his  cutter.  A  few  words  will  suffice  with 
regard  to  his  survey,  of  which  a  long  and  detailed  account  is 
given  in  the  second  volume  of  Vancouver's  Journal. 

The  portion  of  the  Columbia  near  the  sea  was  found  by  the 


/  A  'I" 


i^l 


■ '/it 


%\ 


w. 


m 


-Hi! 


m 


M ' 


136 


179-2. 
Oct.  31 


explorers  to  bo  about  seven  miles  in  width;  its  depth  varied  fiom 
two  fathoms  to  eight;  and  it  was  crossed  in  every  direction  by- 
shoals,  which  must  always  render  the  navigation  difficult,  even 

Oct,  26.  by  small  vessels.  Higher  up,  the  stream  became  narrower,  and 
at  the  distance  of  twenty-five  miles  its  breadth  did  not  exceed 
a  thousand  yards.  These  circumstances  were  considered  by 
Broughton  and  Vancouver  as  authorizing  them  to  assume  that 
the  true  entrance  of  the  river  was  at  the  last-mentioned  point,  and 
that  the  waters  between  it  and  the  ocean  constituted  an  inlet  or 
sound.  From  the  extremity  of  this  inlet,  the  party  rowed  eighty- 
four  miles  up  the  river,  in  a  southwest  course,  to  a  bend,  where 

Oct.  30,  the  current  being  so  rapid  as  to  prevent  them  from  advancing 
without  great  labor,  they  abandoned  the  survey  and  returned  to 

Nov.  5.  their  vessel.  The  angle  of  land  around  which  the  river  flowed, 
and  where  their  progress  was  arrested,  received  the  appellation 
of  Point  Vancouver;  the  part  of  the  inlet  where  the  ship  Colum- 
bia lay  at  anchor  during  her  visit,  was  called  Gray^s  Bay;  and 
that  immediately  within  Cape  Disappointment  was  named  Ba- 
ker^s  Bay,  in  compliment  to  the  captain  of  the  Jenny.  On  the 
10th  of  November  the  Chatham  quitted  the  Columbia,  in  com- 

Nov.  23.  pany  with  the  Jenny,  and  arrived  at  the  Bay  of  San  Francisco 
before  the  end  of  the  month. 

The  distinction  which  Vancouver  and  Broughton  have  thus 
endeavored  to  establish  between  the  upper  and  the  lower  parts  ol 
the  Columbia  is  entirely  destitute  of  foundation,  and  at  variance 
with  the  principles  upon  which  our  whole  geographical  nomen- 
clature is  formed.  Inlets  and  sounds  are  arms  of  the  sea,  running 
up  into  the  land;  and  their  waters,  being  supplied  from  the  sea, 
are  necessarily  salt.  The  waters  of  the  Columbia  are,  on  the 
contrary,  fresh  and  potable  within  ten  miles  of  the  Pacific ;  their 
volume,  and  the  impetuosity  of  their  current,  being  sufficient  to 
prevent  the  farther  ingress  of  the  ocean  billows.  The  question 
appears,  at  first,  to  be  of  no  consequence ;  the  following  extract 
from  Vancouver's  Journal  will,  however,  serve  to  show  that  the 
quibble  was  devised  by  the  British  navigators,  with  the  unwor- 
thy object  of  depriving  Captain  Gray  of  the  merits  of  his  discov- 
ery :  "  Previously  to  his  [Broughton's]  departure,  he  formally 
took  possession  of  the  river,  and  the  country  in  its  vicinity,  in 
his  Britannic  Majesty's  name,  luiving  every  reason  to  believe  that 
the  subjects  of  ito  other  civilized  nation  or  State  had  ever  entered 
this  river  before.  In  this  opinion  he  was  confirmed  by  Mr.  Gray's 
sketch,  in  which  it  does  not  appear  tluxt  Mr.  Gray  either  saw,  or 
ever  was  withinfive  leagues  of  its  entrance.''^  Comments  on  this 
passage  are  needless. 

From  the  Bay  of  San  Francisco,  Vancouver  despatched  Lieu- 
tenant Broughton  to  Europe,  by  way  of  Mexico,  with  further  com- 
munications to  his  Government  respecting  the  transfer  of  Nootka; 
and  he  then  proceeded  with  his  vessels  to  the  Sandwich  Islands, 
the  importance  of  which,  as  places  of  resort  for  obtaining  repairs 
and  refreshments,  began  by  that  time  to  be  properly  estimated. 
He  there  succeeded  in  effecting  a  peace,  and  reciprocal  recogni- 
tions of  independence,  between  Tamahamaha,  the  celebrated 


1793. 


chief  of 
and  he 
had  beei 
the  Deed 
ccrtaincc 
Having 
north  WB! 
The  i 
in  explo 
lotto's  Is 
in  1792. 
researchc 
The  rest 
lands,  sit 
68th  parr 
regarded 
The  inle 
los  Reyes 
the  66th 
voyage  a 
pelago,  tl 
proved,  ii 
of  the  Pa 
The  is 
nearly  all 
the  minis 
mont  oft 
northwes 
the  Thira 
and  Pitt 
by  Caam 
in  compli 
rim  the  . 
Chatham, 
Passage ; 
/lams,  Di 
however, 
employed 
called  ar( 
west  coas 
allelofS^ 
possible. 
Thus,  on 
the  Bay  o 
gatsch; 
the  Port 
territory 


•  For  the 
Vancouver'.' 
Sandwich  I> 
his  Journal, 


137 


varied  fvom 
iirectiou  by 
ificult,  even 
irrower,  and 
not  exceed 
nsidered  by 
assume  thut 
id  point,  and 
d  an  inlet  or 
»wed  eighty- 
bend,  where 
n  advancing 
[  returned  to 
river  flowed, 
3  appellation 
ship  Colum- 
f''s  Bay;  and 
(  named  Ba- 
,ny.    On  the 
bia,  in  com- 
in  Francisco 

m  have  thus 
loAver  parts  oi' 
id  at  variance 
hical  nomen- 
I  sea,  running 
from  the  sea, 
1  are,  on  tlie 
Pacific;  their 
*  sufficient  to 
The  question 
)wing  extract 
show  that  the 
th  the  unwor- 
of  his  discov- 
,  he  formally 
ts  vicinity,  in 
to  believe  that 
d  ever  entered 
by  Mr.  Gray's 
'  either  saw,  or 
iments  on  this 

ipatched  Lieu- 
,h  further  com- 
sferofNootka; 
dwich  Islands, 
taining  repairs 
erly  estimated, 
procal  recogni- 
the  celebrated 


chief  of  Owyhee,  and  Titerec,  the  sovereign  of  the  other  islands ; 
and  he  also  caused  the  execution  of  several  of  the  natives,  wh 
had  been  delivered  up  to  him  as  the  murderers  of  two  officers  of 
the  Dfpdalus  in  the  preceding  year,  but  who  were  afterwards  as- 
certained to  have  been  guiltless  of  the  crime  imputed  to  them.* 
Having  performed  these  acts  of  justice,  ho  sailed  towards  tho 
northwest  coast,  and  arrived  at  Nootka  in  May,  1793. 

The  following  summer  was  passed  by  the  British  navigators 
in  exploring  tho  passages  north  and  northeast  of  Queen  Char- 
lotte's Islands,  which  had  been  partially  examined  by  Caamano 
in  1792.  It  would  be  needless  to  present  the  particulars  of  these 
researches,  which  were  conducted  in  the  most  masterly  manner. 
The  results  were,  the  discovery  and  survey  of  a  number  of  is- 
lands, situated  at  short  distances  apart,  between  the  54th  and  tho 
68th  parallels  of  latitude,  in  a  space  which  had  been  previously 
regarded  as  occupied  by  a  portion  of  the  American  continent. 
The  inlet  found  by  Gray,  and  supposed  by  him  to  be  the  Bio  de 
los  Reyes  of  Font*,  was  traced  to  its  termination  in  the  land  near 
the  66th  parallel;  and  whilst  a  part  of  the  story  of  that  admiral's 
voyage  appeared  to  be  confirmed  by  the  discovery  of  the  Archi- 
pelago, the  remainder  was  believed  to  have  been  completely  dis- 
proved, inasmuch  as  no  great  river  was  found  entering  that  part 
of  the  Pacific. 

The  islands,  straits,  bays,  and  capes  thus  discovered,  wore 
nearly  all  named  in  honor  of  the  members  of  the  royal  family, 
the  ministry,  the  peerage,  and  the  other  branches  of  the  Govern- 
ment of  Great  Britain.  Thus  we  find  on  Vancouver's  map  of  the 
northwest  Archipelago,  the  islands  or  groups  of  Kinisr  George 
the  Third,  the  Prince  of  Wales,  the  Duke  of  York,  the  Admiralty, 
and  Pitt;  one  small  group,  which  had  been  partially  surveyed 
by  Caamano,  received  tho  appellation  of  RiveUagif^^edo  Islands, 
in  compliment  to  the  Viceroy  of  Mexico.  Between  these  islands 
run  the  Didce  of  Clarence's  Strait,  Prince  Frederivk\'i  Sound, 
Chatham,  Canal,  Grenville  Canal,  Bvrke^s  Canal,  and  Stejihen^s 
Passage ;  the  capes  and  bays  being  distributed  among  the  Wind- 
Imms,  Dmidases,  and  other  high  tory  families  of  that  day.  It  is, 
however,  improbable  that  a  ly  one  of  these  names  will  ever  be 
employed  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  region  in  which  the  places  so 
called  are  situated.  The  Russians,  who  now  occupy  the  Avhole 
west  coast  of  America  and  the  adjacent  islands  north  of  the  par- 
allel of  64  degrees  40  minutes,  appear  to  have  excluded,  as  far  as 
possible,  the  appellations  bestowed  by  the  subjects  of  other  States. 
Thus,  on  their  charts  of  the  north  Pacific,  Coolers  Inlet  is  termed 
the  Bay  of  Kenny;  Prince  William?s  Sound  is  the  Gxdf  of  Tschu- 
galsch;  Admiralty  Bay  is  the  Bay  of  Yakutat;  and  Norfolk  Sound, 
the  Port  Guadelupe  of  the  Spaniards,  is  the  Gxilf  of  Sitca.  The 
territory  called  by  Vancouver  Ki7tg  George  the  Third's  Island, 


*  For  the  particulars  of  the  trial  and  execution  of  these  unforiunate  savages,  see 
Vancouver's  Journal,  vol.  ii,  page  iiOI.  Capiain  Broughion,  when  he  visiied  the 
Sandwich  Islands  in  17!).i,  was  assured  of  their  entire  innocence,  as  may  be  seen  iu 
his  Journal,  page  42.  . 


1793, 


1 


t'lr! 


If! 
■i , 


J;r( 


'li'' 


M  ^ 


138 


ITP.i:    has  b<;en  since  found  to  bo  divided  by  channels  into  four  islands, 

which  are  severally  distinguished  by  the  names  of  Chichiirnf^ 

linratinf^  Jacoln,  and  Kiooze.     The  Prime  of  Wales^s  Islands  are 

Tschinkofs  Islands;  Admiralty  Island  is  Uoosnoof ;  and  <SVe. 

phen''s  Passoffe  is  the  Strait  of  Acco. 

ir;»+.        These  surveys  having  been  completed,  the  British  shii)8  re- 

Ff l>.  y:»  tired  on  the  approach  of  cold  weather  to  the  Sandwich  Islands, 
where  Vancouver  contrived  to  obtain  from  King  Taniahatnaha 
the  cession  of  the  sovereignty  of  Owyhee  to  his  Britannic  Majes- 
ty, with  the  understanding,  however,  that  the  native  chief  and 
his  dlFicers,  as  well  as  the  priests,  "were  to  continue  to  officiate 
in  their  respective  stations,  and  that  no  alteration  in  those  partic- 
ulars was  in  any  degree  thought  of  or  intended."  In  return  for 
t/ie  presvnt,  tlie  British  navigators  built  a  vessel  of  war  for  the 
King,  by  tl»o  aid  of  which  he  soon  after  brought  several  other 
islands  of  the  group  under  his  dominion.* 

R!ar.  XT.  fn  the  spring  of  1794  Vancouver  sailed  from  the  Sandwich 
Islands  to  the  bay  called  Cook's  River,  which  he  minutely  ex- 
jdored  -,  and  having  ascertained  that  no  considerable  stream  emp- 
tied into  it,  as  had  been  previously  supposed,  he  changed  its 
natiie  to  Coolers  Inlet.  Thence  he  proceeded  to  Prince  William's 
Sound,  Avhich  he  also  examined  carefully;  and  I'rom  that  place 
he  continued  his  survey  eastwardly,  until  he  reached  the  Archi- 
pelago discovered  by  him  in  1793.  Through  this  Archipelago 
he  again  sailed  lor  tht  purpose  of  completing  his  observations ; 
and  on  the  2d  of  August  he  arrived  at  Nootka,  satisfied  that  "  the 
precision  with  which  his  survey  of  the  coast  of  Northwest  Amer- 
ica had  been  cond  acted,  would  remove  every  doubt,  and  set  aside 
every  opinion  of  a  northwest  passage,  or  any  water  communica- 
tion navigable  for  shipping  between  the  north  Pacific  and  the 
interior  of  the  American  continent,  Avithin  the  limits  of  his  re- 
searches." We  now  know  that  no  such  communication  exists 
east  of  Beering's  Strait;  but  wlien  Ave  take  into  consideration  the 
intricate  character  of  the  shores  between  Mount  Saint  Elias  and 
the  southern  part  of  the  Strait  of  Fuca,  it  must  be  admitted  that 
nuiny  passai,^<'s  by  which  vesst  Is  could  thus  penetrate  the  conti- 
nent might  have  long  escaped  the  notice  of  the  most  careful  nav- 
igators. In  fact,  a  river  called  the  Stikine,  which  is  three  miles 
wide  at  its  mouth,  and  a  mile  wide  at  the  distance  of  thirty  miles 
from  the  sea,  has  been,  within  a  few  years,  discovered  emptying 
into  the  Pacific,  in  the  latitude  of  .56  degrees  50  minutes. 

Fepr.  0;  At  Nootka  the  Spaniards  were  found  still  in  possession,  under 
the  command  of  Colonel  Alava,  Avho  had  been,  moreover,  appoint- 
ed commissioner  of  his  Government,  in  place  of  Captain  Quadra, 
lately  deceased.  No  orders  had  been  received  from  Europe  rela- 
tive to  the  sunender  of  the  territory,  and  the  British  ships  accord- 
ingly proceeded  to  Monterey,  where  the  long  expected  instruc- 
tions arrived  during  their  stay.  The  Court  of  Madrid  had  agreed 
to  abandon  Nootka;  and  on  the  part  of  Great  Britain,  another 


*  This  justly  celebrated  man  died  in  1819,  having  some  years  previous  established 
his  auihuiity  over  all  the  islands  of  the  group. 


four  islands, 
r  Chicliairnf^ 
» Islands  are 
f;  and  Ute- 

sh  ships  re- 
'ich  Islands, 
'anmhamaha 
vnnic  Mujes- 
ire  chief  and 
5  to  officiate 
those  partic- 
[n  return  for 
■  war  for  the 
several  other 

le  Sandwich 
minutely  ex- 
stream  emp- 
changed  its 
ice  William's 
m  that  place 
3d  the  Archi- 
i  Archipelago 
)bservations ; 
led  that "  the 
thwest  Amer- 
and  set  aside 
comnmnica- 
cific  and  the 
hs  of  his  re- 
ication  exists 
sideration  the 
lint  Elias  and 
admitted  that 
[ite  the  conti- 
;t  careful  nav- 
is  three  miles 
)f  thirty  miles 
red  emptying 
nutes. 

ession,  under 
over,  appoint- 
ptain  Uuadra, 
I  Europe  rela- 
ships  accord- 
ected  instruc- 
•id  had  agreed 
itain,  another 


evious  established 


139 

commissioner  was  despatched  to  the  Pacific  to  receive  possession 
of  the  phu  ^,  if  Vancouver  should  have  quitted  that  ocean.  Under 
these  circumstances  Vancouver  resolved  to  return  to  England, 
where  he  arrived  in  August,  1795. 

The  Journals  of  Vancouver's  voyage  were  published  in  1798, 
before  which  period  the  navigator  had  sunk  into  the  grave.  'I'ho 
work  is  invaluable,  notwithstandinsr  the  illiberal  spirit  which 
pervades  its  pages.  In  none  other  can  bo  found  so  nmch  clear 
and  precise  information  with  regard  to  the  northwest  coasts  of 
America ;  and  it  is  only  to  be  lamented  that  one  endowed  with 
such  courage,  capacity,  and  professional  skill,  as  the  author  evi- 
dently possessed,  should  have  been  so  far  governed  by  unworthy 
prejudices  as  he  evidently  was.  Towards  the  Spaniards  ho  ap- 
pears to  have  been  inclined,  generally,  to  act  with  justice,  or  at 
least  with  courteousness ;  but  against  all  citizens  of  the  United 
States,  and  their  country,  he  cherished  the  most  bitter  animosity, 
which  was  in  many  instances  loo  powerful  to  be  controlled  by  his 
sense  of  honor.  Whenever  an  opportunity  presented  itself,  or 
could  be  contrived,  for  exhibiting  the  character  or  conduct  of 
Americans  in  an  unfavorable  light,  it  was  eagerly  seized  by  Van- 
couver; and  that  which  he  would  have  pardoned  or  commended 
in  an  Englishman  or  u  Spaniard,  became  criminal  in  his  eyes 
when  committed  by  a  citizen  of  the  hated  Republic. 

The  observations  of  Vancouver  form  the  basis  of  our  best  maps 
of  the  west  coast  of  America,  from  the  30th  degree  of  latitude  to 
the  northern  extremity  of  Cook's  Inlet,  as  also  of  those  of  the 
Sandwich  Islands,  which  he  surveyed  with  care.  Tlic  maps 
contained  in  the  atlas  annexed  to  the  Journal  of  the  Voyage  of 
the  Sutil  and  Mexicana,  are  nearly  all  copied  from  those  of  the 
British  navigator. 

Whilst  these  surveys  of  the  Pacific  coasts  of  North  America 
were  in  progress,  Alexander  Mackenzie,  a  Scotchman  in  the  ser- 
vice of  the  celebrated  fur-trading  association,  called  the  North- 
u-vst  Company^  was  exploring  the  unknown  regions  of  the  conti- 
nent bordering  upon  that  part  of  the  ocean.  The  association  by 
which  he  was  employed  had  been  formed  in  1787,  among  the 
principal  fur-merchants  of  Canada,  for  the  purpose  («f  carrying  on 
the  trade  between  the  posts  of  that  country  and  such  of  the  Brit- 
ish territories  of  the  interior  as  were  supposed  to  be  not  included 
in  the  grant  to  the  Uiutsoii's  Bay  Company ;  and  within  two 
years  afterwards,  its  establishments  had  been  advanced  as  far  as 
Lake  of  the  Hills,  or  Athabaska  LnJce,  near  the  159th  parallel  of 
latitude,  about  eight  hundred  miles  beyond  Lake  Superior. 

From  Fort  Chipewyan,  the  trading-station  on  this  lake,  Mac- 
kenzie departed  on  his  first  journey  in  June,  1789,  and  proceeded 
in  a  boat  down  the  Slave  River,  which  flows  out  of  the  lake,  di- 
rectly northward,  into  the  Great  Slave  Lake,  discovered  by  Hearne 
in  1770.  Thence  he  continued  northwestward,  down  another 
and  much  larger  stream,  on  which  he  bestowed  his  own  name, 
to  its  termination  in  a  sea  near  the  69th  degree  of  latitude ;  and 
having  thus  fulfilled  the  objects  of  his  expedition,  he  returned  to 
Fort  Chipewyan.    The  mouth  of  the  Mackenzie  was  situated 


1791. 


1795. 


17S3. 


n 


vy 


V;' 


< 


7 


* 


!  •!■ 


ill: 


m 


^^i'ii 


I 


140 


i\i' 


I! 

m 

■',' 
-ill 


Oct.  10, 


1793. 


1789.  much  (iirthor  wost  than  th.it  of  tho  Coppfrmhir,  whiVh  Iffiarno 
had  rc.icluMl;  and  tfic  jtrnfjahihty  of  tlin  f'xist(;ncc  of  a  iinrlhcrn 
iiavitfJihlo  corniiUMuration  botwoMi  tlm  I'acifir,  and  tht*  Atlantic, 
cast  of  IJeoring's  Strait,  was  thus  (ronsidcnihly  hissoned ;  whili",  on 
tho  other  hantl,  stronger  grounds  were  alfordi-d  for  the  hohcf  that 
tho  nortii(:rninost  parts  of  America  were  hathod  hy  an  open  sea. 

In  his  second  expedition,  begun  in  October,  \7\)2,  M.ickenzit; 
ascended  tho  Unjiii<t/i,  or  Pmre  U'wcr^  (wliich  empties  into  the 
Athabasca  liake,)  w(!stu'ard  to  its  sources,  among  tho  Rocky 
Mountains.  Having  crossed  this  chain,  he  embarked  uf)on  ano- 
thcr  large  stream  called  tho  Tnrovtrhvv,  which  he  descended  to  a 
short  flistance;  and  then  mnrching  directly  M'ostu'ard,  he  reached 
July  20.  the  Pacific  on  tho  !i'2d  of  July,  1  TU.'i,  at  tho  mcmth  of  one  of  tho  iii- 
Aiig,  t\.  lets  near  tho  l^rincess  Royal  Islands,  in  tho  latitude  of  5:i  degrees 
and  2{)  minutes.*  By  this  second  joinnoy,  ho  ascertained  that  no 
passage  existed  through  the  North  American  continent,  opening 
into  the  Pacific  south  of  tho  parallel  above  mention(?tl ;  which  fact 
had  been  already,  thongh  less  decisively,  proved  by  Vancouver 
in  tho  preceding  year.  The  Tacontchee  Avas  for  some  time  sup- 
posed to  bo  tho  principal  branch  of  tho  Columbia;  it  has,  liow- 
over,  been  subsequently  found  to  bo  a  much  smaller  stream, 
emptying  into  tho  Strait  of  Fucu,  and  it  is  now  known  as  /'m- 
2<r\s'  River. 

The  journals  of  Mackenzie's  two  ex|x;ditions  were  publislied 
together,  at  Ijondon,  in  JStVi,  accompanied  l)y  a  history  of  tho 
Canada  fur  trade,  and  by  observations  on  the  mode  of  conducting 
tho  conmicrcial  intercourse  between  America  and  China  advan- 
tageously to  the  interests  of  Croat  Britain.  He  there  reconmiends 
that  the  Hudson's  IBayand  the  Northwest  ('ompanies,  which  had 
been  at  war  with  each  other  ever  since  the  fi>nnation  of  tho  latter, 
should  be  united;  that  tho  British  Covernment  should  favor  the 
establishment  of  communications  across  t'le  continent,  fi>r  which 
tho  Tacontchee,  supi)osed  by  him  to  be  the  Columbia,  would 
afibrd  great  facilities;  and  that  tho  East  India  Company  should 
throw  open  to  their  fellow-subjects  tho  trade  between  the  north- 
west coasts  and  Canton,  which  was  then,  as  he  says,  "left  to  the 
adventurers  of  the  United  States,  acting  without  regularity  or 
capital,  or  the  desire  of  conciliating  future  confidence,  and  look- 
ing only  to  the  interest  of  tho  moment."  Experience  has  proved 
the  Justice  of  Mackenzie's  observations;  and  nearly  all  his  sug- 
gestions have  been  adopted,  to  tho  manifest  advantage  of  Great 
Britain. 

It  is  proper  to  notice  here  an  account  of  an  expedition  across 
the  American  continent,  made  between  1791  and  1794,  by  a  party 
of  citizens  of  the  United  States,  under  the  direction  of  Julius 
Rodman,  whose  journal  has  been  recently  discovered  in  Virginia, 
and  is  now  in  course  of  publication  'n  a  periodical  magazinef  at 


♦  On  the  day  of  Mackenzie's  arrival  on  the  shore  of  the  Pacific,  Vancouver  was 
examininjj  another  inlet  .situated  about  one  hunilred  and  fifiy  miles  farther  north. 

t  Burton's  Magazine  and  American  Monthly  Review,  edited  by  William  E.  Bur- 
ton and  Edgar  A.  Poe.  Mr.  Hodman's  journal  is  commenced  in  the  number  for 
January,  1840,  and  is  conlinued  in  those  fur  the  next  following  months. 


141 


lirli  Ifj-nmo 
"  11  iiortlirrn 
\\o  Atliuitir, 
I;  \vlill<',nii 
c  belief  that 
m  ojM'ii  sea. 

Mack(.'iizi(! 
ties  into  the 

tllc  lloeky 
(I  ti[x>n  iuio- 
■icoiidecl  to  ,1 
,  hf  j\  ached 
ric  of  the  in- 
if  5'i  degrees 
iiiio(l  that  110 
ent,  ()peniii;T 

which  fact 
y  Vancouver 
lie  tiiiK!  sup- 
it  lias,  liow- 
iller  stream, 
iwu  as  Fra- 

TV  pulilislied 
i story  of  the 
f  conducting 
Jhina  advan- 
reconiinends 
s,  which  liad 
I  of  tho  latter, 
uld  favor  the 
lit,  fiir  which 
nihia,  would 
ipauy  should 
L'n  the  uorth- 
s,  » left  to  the 
regularity  or 
ce,  and  look- 
'.c  lias  proved 
y  all  his  sug- 
tage  of  Great 

edition  across 
H,  by  a  party 
ion  of  Julius 
id  in  Virginia, 
magazinef  at 


;,  Vancouver  was 
s  farther  north. 
William  E.  Bur- 
1  the  number  fur 
inlUs. 


Philadelphlo.  The  portion  which  has  yet  appeared  relates  only 
to  the  voyage  f»f  the  adventurer  up  the  Missouri  during  the!  sum- 
mer of  17'.U  ;  and  no  ich'a  is  cotnniiinicated  of  their  route  beyond 
that  river,  exo(([)f  in  the  Introduction  by  the  editor,  when-  it  is 
stated  that  tlufv  traversed  the  region  "west  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains, and  north  of  the  (iUth  parallel,  which  is  still  marked  u{K)n 
our  maps  as  unexplored,  and  which,  until  this  day,  has  been  al- 
ways so  considered."  From  what  has  been  published,  it  is  im- 
possible to  form  a  diifinitive  opinion  as  to  tho  degree  of  credit 
whicfi  is  due  to  the  narrative, or  as  to  the  value  of  tho  statements, 
if  they  are  true;  and  all  that  can  bo  hero  said  in  addition  is,  that 
nothing  as  yet  appears,  either  in  the  journal  or  relating  to  it,  cal- 
culated to  excite  suspicions  with  regard  to  its  authenticity. 

To  conolude  with  regard  to  tho  delivery  of  Nootka. 

The  commissioner  appointed  liy  the  British  CJovcrnment  to  re- 
ceive possession  of  that  jilace,  provided  Vancouver  should  liavo 
left  tho  Pacific,  was  Captain  Robert  Broughton,  the  former  com- 
mander of  tho  Chatham.  He  sailed  from  Kngland  in  tho  ship 
Providence  in  October,  171M,  and  in  April,  17%,  he  reached 
Nootka,  which  he  lound  occuniod  only  by  the  natives.  He  there 
learned  from  a  letter,  presented  to  him  by  Maquinna,  dated  March, 
lis)'},  that  "  the  Spaniards  had  delivered  up  the  port  of  Nootka, 
«fcc.,  to  Lieutenant  Pierce,  of  tho  marines,  [Avho  had  been  des- 
patched fronj  England,  by  way  of  Mexico,  in  order  to  hasten  tho 
termination  of  the  business,]  agreeably  to  the  mode  of  restitution 
settled  between  the  two  Courts."* 

This  is  tho  account  given  by  Droughton-f  On  the  other  hand, 
Belsham,  an  historian  whom  no  one  can  suspect  of  Avant  of  at- 
tachment to  the  honor  and  interests  of  his  country,  says:  J  "It  is 
nevertheless  certain,  from  tho  most  authentic  subsequent  infor- 
mation, t/iftt  the  Spanish  Jin  rr  fly  in  fr  at  the  fort  and  settlement  of 
Nootka  was  vevrrstruel:,,  and  that  the  n'hofe  territory  has  been  virtu- 
ally relintiuished  by  Great  Britain ;  a  measure,  however  politically 
cx{)edient,  which  involves  in  it  a  severe  reflection  upon  the  min- 
ister who  could  permit  so  invidious  an  encroachment  upon  the 


♦  In  the  library  of  Congrress  at  Washington  is  an  interesting  Spanish  manuscript, 
prescniPii  by  General  Tornel,  during  liis  residence  in  the  United  States  as  mmisier 
i'riiin  M''xic(i,  entitled  Instruccion  licscitada  dilltvAjno  tie  NucvaEipahu  queel  J-l.r.mo. 
fknnr  Viirrti  Conde  dc  licriU(i>;if^cdo  din  a  sn  succfor  cl  Kxmo.  Sator  Aliinjucs  de 
lirancifoiie  cii  cl  am  de  171)  1;  that  is  to  say — Secret  Instructions,  or  rather  notes  on 
the  Kiiii,'dom  of  New  Spain,  jjiven  in  17!>4  by  the  Viceroy,  Count  de  Revillagigedo, 
to  his  successor,  the  Marquis  de  Branciforte.  This  worl<,  which  abounds  in  curi- 
ous details  relative  to  the  administration  of  affairs  in  Mexico,  has  been  carefully 
examined,  with  reference  to  the  objects  of  the  present  memoir.  Nothing,  however, 
has  been  collected  from  it,  except  in  confirmation  of  statements  elsewhere  made. 
The  paragraphs  from  7t»3  to7l3,  inclusive,  are  devoted  to  the  Marine  Dcparlment  of 
Srt/i  lilaf,  to  which,  as  already  tnenlioned,  the  care  of  the  Spanish  colonies  in  Cali- 
fornia was  committed.  The  Count  recommends  to  his  successor  the  maintenance 
of  tho^e  colonies,  as  the  best  means  of  preseiving  Mexico  fiom  foreign  influences; 
advising  him,  at  the  same  time,  however,  not  to  extend  the  establishments  beyond 
the  Strait  of  Fuca.  With  regard  to  Nootka,  it  is  merely  stated,  in  paragraph  713, 
that  orders  had  been  sent  to  the  commandant  to  abandon  the  place,  agreeably  to  a 
royal  dUlamcu. 

t  Broughton's  Journal  of  his  Voyage,  page  50. 

X  Belsliam'.s  History  of  Great  Britain,  vol.  viii,  page  337. 


1799. 


1795. 


179a 


hi 


li 


■fell 
It 

¥ 


4ii 


ii  < 


^1  i^ « 


] 


142 


:■ 


I 


i 


1796.    ancient  and  acknowledged  rights  of  the  Crown  of  Spain."    The 
probability  is,  that  the  Spaniards  merely  abandoned  the  place. 

Since  that  period,  no  attempt  has  been  made  by  any  civilized 
nation  to  form  an  establishment  at  Nootka  or  in  its  vicinity,  al- 
though the  sound  continued  to  be,  and  probably  still  is,  occasion- 
ally visited  by  the  fur-traders.  The  most  recent  accounts  of  it 
which  have  been  published,  are  of  no  later  date  than  1807,  when 
King  Maquinna  was  enjoying  the  fulness  of  health  and  of  power; 
and  although  his  manners  appeared  to  have  then  become  more 
refined,  he  was  still  at  heart  a  cruel  and  treacherous  savage.* 

In  this  and  the  next  preceding  chapters,  an  endeavor  has  been 
made  to  present  an  impartial  view  of  the  circumstances  connected 
with  the  occupation  of  Nootka  by  the  Spaniards  in  1789 ;  and  it 
is  believed  that  the  erroneousness  of  the  statements  of  the  British 
political  and  historical  authorities  respecting  those  circumstances 
has  been  conclusively  demonstrated.     It  has  been  shown  that— 

No  part  of  "  the  northwest  coasts  yf  the  continent  of  North  Amer- 
ica, or  of  the  adjacent  islands,'"  was,  or  ever  had  been,  occupied 
by  British  subjects  prior  to  the  formation  of  the  Spanish  post  at 
Nootka,  in  1789: 

That,  consequently,  no  "  buildings  or  tracts  of  land'*  in  that 
quarter  were  "  to  be  restored  to  British  subjects'*  agreeably  to  the 
convention  of  October  28,1790:  and,  as  a  farther  consequence. 

That  the  abandonment  of  Nootka  by  the  Spaniards,  in  1795, 
gave  to  Great  Britain  no  other  rights  at  that,  or  any  other  place  in 
Northwest  America,  than  those  derived  from  the  third  and  fifth 
articles  of  the  abovementioned  convention,  by  which  her  sub- 
jects were  at  liberty  to  navigate  and  fish  in  the  north  Pacific,  to 
trade  or  settle  in  unoccupied  parts  of  its  American  coasts  north  of 
the  parts  occupied  by  the  Spaniards  before  \pril,  1789,  (that  is  to 
say,  north  of  the  Bay  of  San  Francisco ;)  and  to  have  free  access 
to  any  Spanish  settlement  on  the  coasts  thus  designated. 

*  Narrative  of  Ihe  Destruction  of  the  ship  Boston,  of  Boston,  and  of  the  murder  of 
all  her  men  except  two,  by  the  savages  at  Nootka  Sound,  in  March,  1803,  with  ac- 
counts of  that  country  and  of  its  inhabitants:  by  John  R.  Jewitl,  one  of  the  survivors 
of  the  crew,  who  remained  three  years  in  captivity  among  the  Indians — a  simple  ami 
unpretending  narrative,  which  will,  no  doubt,  in  after  centuries,  be  read  with  inter- 
est by  the  enlightened  people  of  Northwest  America. 


Comprehem 
west  coas 
ted  Stales 
and  establ 
States— C 
in  the  nor 
Columbia 
America- 
cans,  who 

In  Oct 

and,  for 
people  of 
occurring 
stow  on  1 
tiJ  with  tl 

During 
and  Cant( 
the  flag,  c 
vented  fr( 
own  East 
mitted  ini 
were  seen 

Until  1 
western  f 
United  S 
spirits,  w 
coarse  m: 
furs  with 
settlemen 
a  Russian 
boats  ant 
cargo, 
ceeds  of 
nankeens 
When  a 
north  Pa 
shells,  an 
in  the  Sa 
prices  at 

Thepe 
the  most 
but  extra 
enabled 
were  not 
als  of  the 


IP&in."  The 
(1  the  place, 
my  civiHzed 
I  vicinity,  al- 
is,  occasion- 
ccounts  of  it 
1 1807,  when 
nd  of  power; 
)econie  more 
savage.* 
vor  has  been 
es  connected 
1789 ;  and  it 
)f  the  British 
ircumstancea 
>hown  that— 
North  Amcr- 
len,  occupied 
>anish  post  at 

land"  in  that 
reeably  to  the 
)nsequence, 
ards,  in  1795, 
other  place  in 
tiird  and  fifth 
lich  her  sub- 
rth  Pacific,  to 
;oasts  north  of 
89,  (that  is  to 
ive  free  access 
iiated. 


1  of  the  murder  of 
eh,  1803,  with  ac- 
le  of  the  survivors 
ans — a  simple  nnil 
le  read  with  inter- 


ji ' ' 


143 


CHAPTER  VIII, 

Comprehending  the  period  between  1796  and  1815 — Commerce  between  the  north- 
west coasts  of  America  and  Canton  conducted  exclusively  by  vessels  of  the  Uni- 
ted States — Formation  of  the  Russian  American  Company ;  account  of  its  system 
and  establishments— Complaints  of  the  Russians  against  the  traders  of  the  iJnited 
States — Cession  of  Louisiana  to  the  United  Slates ;  supposed  extent  of  Louisiana 
in  the  north  and  northwest— Expedition  of  Lewis  and  Clarke  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Columbia — First  enterprises  of  British  and  American  fur-traders  in  Northwest 
America — Astoria  enterprise — Mouth  of  the  Columbia  occupied  by  the  Ameri- 
cans, who  are  dislodged  by  the  British. 

In  October,  1796,  Spain  declared  war  against  Great  Britain ; 
and,  for  nearly  twenty  years  afterwards,  the  Governments  and 
people  of  both  nations  were  too  much  engrossed  by  events  daily 
occurring  in  their  immediate  vicinity  to  have  any  leisure  to  be- 
stoM'^  on  matters  so  comparatively  unimportant  as  those  connect- 
0  J  with  the  northwest  coasts  of  America. 

During  this  whole  period,  the  direct  trade  between  those  coasts 
and  Canton  was  carried  on  exclusively  by  the  vessels,  and  under 
the  flag,  of  the  United  Stales.  The  British  merchants  Avere  pre- 
vented from  engaging  in  this  commerce  by  the  refusal  of  their 
own  East  India  Company  to  allow  it ;  the  Russians  were  not  ad- 
mitted into  the  Chinese  ports,  and  few  ships  of  any  other  nation 
were  seen  in  the  north  Pacific. 

Until  1811  the  Americans  had  formed  no  establishment  on  the 
western  sliore  of  the  continent.  Their  vessels  sailed  from  the 
United  States,  or  from  Europe,  to  the  north  Pacific,  laden  with 
spirits,  wine,  sugar,  tobacco,  fire-arms,  gunpowder,  iron,  and 
coarse  manufactures  of  various  sorts,  which  were  exchanged  for 
furs  with  the  natives  on  the  coasts,  or  with  the  Russians  at  their 
settlements ;  or  sometimes  the  American  captain  would  hire  from 
a  Russian  agent  a  number  of  hunters  and  fishermen,  with  their 
boats  and  implements,  for  the  season,  and  Avould  thus  obtain  a 
cargo.  The  furs  were  thence  carried  to  Canton,  where  the  pro- 
ceeds of  their  sale  were  invested  in  teas,  porcelain,  silks,  and 
nankeens,  for  the  markets  of  the  United  States  or  of  Europe. 
When  a  sufficient  quantity  of  furs  could  not  be  collected  in  the 
north  Pacific,  their  place  was  supplied  by  sandal-wood,  pearl 
shells,  and  tortoise  shells,  Avhich  were  procured  at  little  expense 
in  the  Sandwich  and  other  islands,  and  always  commanded  high 
prices  at  Canton. 

The  persons  engaged  in  this  trade  were  constantly  exposed  to 
the  most  dreadful  hardships  and  dangers,  against  which  nothing 
but  extraordinary  courage  and  skill  on  their  parts  could  have 
enabled  them  to  struggle  successfully.  These  circumstances 
were  not  calculated  to  soften  the  feelings  or  to  improve  the  mor- 
als of  the  traders  j  and  as  they  were  actually  subject  to  no  other 


1796. 


f' 


■n  ■  y\ 


i 


4X 


liJ 


M 


' 


V 


144 

1796.  laws  or  restrictions,  during  their  voyages  in  the  Pacific,  than 
such  as  they  themselves  chose  to  adopt  or  observe,  it  could  not 
have  been  expected  that  their  conduct  should  at  all  times  be  con- 
formable with  the  principles  of  justice.  They  have  been  charged 
by  British  reviewers  and  Hritish  naval  officers — authorities  always 
to  be  distrusted  on  matters  pertaining  to  the  United  States  or  its 
citizens — with  practising  every  species  of  fraud  and  violence  to- 
wards  the  natives  of  the  coasts  and  islands  of  that  ocean.  It  does 
not,  however,  appear,  upon  examining  the  facts  brought  forward 
in  support  of  these  accusations,  that  the  American  fur-traders 
were  guilty  of  other  or  greater  improprieties  than  have  ever  been, 
and  must  ever  be,  committed  by  shrewd  and  intelligent  civilized 
people,  when  unrestrained  by  laws,  in  their  transactions  with 
brutal,  ignorant,  and  faithless  savages.  These  latter,  in  their  turn, 
availed  themselves  of  every  occasion  to  rob  and  murder  the 
strangers  who  came  to  their  shores.  More  than  one  American 
ship  has  been  seized,  and  all  on  board  massacred  by  the  na- 
tives of  the  Pacific  coasts ;  and  boldom,  indeed,  did"  a  vessel 
from  the  United  States  complete  her  voyage  in  that  ocean,  with- 
out losing  some  part  of  her  crew  by  the  treachery  of  those  with 
whom  they  were  dealing.  Thus  in  March,  1803,  the  ship  Bos- 
ton, of  Boston,  commanded  by  John  Salter,  Avas  surprised  at  Noot- 
ka,  by  Maquinna  and  his  followers,  and  all  her  men  were  put  to 
death  except  two,  who,  after  remaining  in  slavery  three  years, 
eflTected  their  escape.*  In  like  manner,  the  Tonquin,  Captain 
Thorn,  of  New  York,  fell  into  the  hands  of  Wiccanish  and  his 
subjects  at  Nittinat,  or  Berkely  Sound,  in  June,  1811 ;  nearly  the 
whole  of  her  crew  perished  in  a  moment,  under  the  cluos  and 
knives  of  the  assailants,  and  the  remainder,  with  the  exception  of 
the  Indian  interpreter,  were  soon  after  destroyed,  together  with  a 
large  number  of  savages,  by  the  explosion  of  the  powder  maga- 
zine, which  was  fired  probably  by  one  of  the  officers. f 

In  the  mean  time  the  Russians,  though  excluded  from  the  di- 
rect trade  with  Canton,  were  continually  increasing  and  enlarging 
their  establishments  in  America.^  The  association  formed  in  1785, 
among  the  merchants  of  eastern  Siberia,  for  carrying  on  the  fur 


»  Narrniivc  of  John  R.  Jcwitt,  already  mentioned  at  page  142. 

+  A  iiurime  and  graphic  account  of  the  destruciion  of  the  Tonquin,  collecietl  from 
the  evidence  of  ihe  interpreter,  who  afierwards  found  his  way  to  the  Columbia 
River,  is  given  by  Ross  Cux,  in  liis  account  of  his  residence  on  the  Columbia  River, 
and  has  been  thence  transferred  by  Mr.  Irving  to  his  Astoria. 

t  The  following  sketch  of  the  Hussian  establishments  in  the  north  Pacific,  during 
the  first  years  of  the  present  century,  is  derived  chiefly  from— 

I.  Narraiive  of  a  Voyage  around  the  World,  in  the  years  1803-1800,  in  the  Rus- 
sian >*hips  Nadeshda  and  Neva,  under  the  command  of  Captain  A.  J.  Von  Kruscn- 
stern.  Tiie  original  edition  of  this  work  is  accompanied  by  a  largo  alias,  contam- 
ing  charts  and  other  engravings. 

II.  Narrative  of  a  Voyage  around  the  World  in  the  Ship  Neva,  by  her  captain, 
Urey  Lisiansky. 

HI.  Narrative  of  a  Voyage  in  the  Pacific,  by  G.  H.  Von  Langsdorf,  the  physician 
of  the  Russian  ship  Nadeshdi. 

IV  Narraiive  of  a  Voyage  around  the  Woild,  in  1815  and  1810,  in  the  Russian 
ship  Knrick,  commanded  by  Lieutenant  Otto  Von  Kotzebue.    A.ni  from — 

v.  Various  documents  existing  in  the  archives  of  the  Department  of  State,  at 
Washington. 


overseer. 


icific,  than 

t  could  not 

nes  be  con- 

;en  cViarged 

ities  always 

States  or  its 

violence  to- 

an.  It  does 

ght  forward 

fur- traders 

!  ever  been, 

nt  civilized 

ctions  with 

n  their  turn, 

murder  the 

le  American 

by  the  na- 

lid'  a  vesbel 

ocean,  with- 

f  those  with 

le  ship  Bos- 

ised  at  Noot- 

were  put  to 

three  years, 

lin,  Captain 

tiish  and  his 

I ;  nearly  the 

le  chios  and 

exception  of 

Tether  with  a 

owder  maga- 

s.t 

[  from  the  di- 
ind  enlarging 
rmed  in  1785, 
ig  on  the  fur 


n,  collected  from 
to  the  Columbia 
Columbia  River, 

It  Pacific,  during 

1800,  ill  the  Riis- 
.  J.  Von  Kruscn- 
go  alias,  coutam- 

I,  by  her  captain, 

)rf,  the  physician 

fl,  in  the  Russian 

>i  i'rom — 

nienl  of  State,  at 


1800. 


1803. 


145 

trade  of  the  north  Pacific,  was  protected  and  encouraged  by  the  179G. 
Empress  Catherine,  who  bestowed  upon  it  many  valuable  privi- 
leges. Her  son  and  successor,  Paul,  was,  at  the  beginning  of  his 
reign,  inclined  to  withdraw  these  advantages,  and  even  to  break 
up  the  association,  on  account  of  the  cruel  conduct  of  its  agents 
towards  the  natives  and  the  Russians  who  were  employed  in  its 
service.  Reasons  of  state,  however,  induced  him  to  abandon  this 
resolution ;  and  he  at  length,  by  a  decree  of  the  8th  of  July,  1799,  1799. 
granted  to  the  united  merchants  a  charter,  assuring  to  them,  under  •'"^v  *^- 
the  title  of  the  Russian  American  Company,  the  exclusive  use 
and  control,  for  twenty  years,  of  all  the  coasts  of  America  on  the 
Pacific,  and  the  islands  in  that  ocean,  from  Beering's  Strait  to  the 
55th  degree  of  south  latitude,  together  with  the  right  of  occupy- 
ing any  other  territories  not  previously  possessed  by  some  civil- 
ized nation.  The  residence  of  the  directors  of  the  company  was 
at  first  fixed  at  Irkutsk,  in  Siberia,  the  great  depository  of  the 
China  trade ;  it  was  afterwards  transferred  to  St.  Petersburgh,  and 
their  afiairs  were  placed  under  the  supermtendence,  or  rather  the 
directors  were  placed  under  the  surveillance,  of  the  Imperial  De- 
partment of  Commerce. 

The  privileges  thus  accorded  by  Paul,  were  confirmed  and  ex- 
tended by  Alexander;  and,  under  these  favorable  auspices,  the 
power  and  influence  of  the  Russian  American  Company  rapidly 
advanced.  In  1S03,  its  establishments  on  the  north  Pacific  coasts 
extended  eastward,  as  far  as  Port  Cuadelupe,  or  Norfolk  Sound, 
called  by  the  Russians  the  G-ulf  of  Sitca,  whicli  separates  the 
small  Island  of  Mount  San  Jacinto,  or  Edgecumb,  or  Krooze,  from 
Baianuff^s  Island,  the  largest  of  tlie  group  named  by  Vancouver 
King  George  the  Third's  Archipelago.  The  settlement  on  the 
Gulf  of  Sitca  was  destroyed  by  savages  in  1804 ;  another  was, 
however,  soon  founded  in  the  vicinity  of  the  same  six)t,  which 
received  the  appellation  of  New  Archangel,  and  has  ever  since 
been  the  capital  of  Russian  America. 

In  180G  preparations  were  made  for  occupying  the  mouth  of 
the  Columbia  River,  but  the  plan  was  abandoned ;  although  that 
part  of  the  coast,  and  all  north  of  it,  was  then,  and  for  many 
years  afterwards,  represented  on  the  maps  of  the  Russian  Ameri- 
can Company  as  included  within  the  limits  of  its  possessions. 

The  Governrnentof  Russian-America  was  arranged  and  conduct-  isoo. 
ed  in  the  most  despotic  manner  possible,  nearly  resembhng  that  of 
a  Turkish  Pashalik ;  each  factory  was  superintended  by  a  Russian 
overseer,  who,  with  the  aid  of  a  small  number  of  Russians,  main- 
tained a])solute  control  over  all  the  natives  in  his  district,  com- 
pelling them  constantly  to  labor  for  the  benefit  of  the  company. 
The  overseers  were  under  the  superintendence  of  agents,  one  of 
whom  resided  in  each  group  of  settlements ;  and  all  were  subject 
to  the  authority  of  a  chief  agent,  or  governor-general,  appointed 
by  the  directors,  whose  powers,  though  nominally  defined  and 
limited  by  regulations  drawn  up  at  St.  Petersburgh,  were,  in  fact, 
absolute  and  unrestricted.  The  person  who  filled  the  office  of 
{TO verncr- general  at  the  beginning  of  this  century,  and  for  many 
years  afterwards,  was  Alexander  Baranoll",  a  bold,  shrewd,  enter- 


1804. 


1806. 


'V  , 


liV- 


m 


"•I  ■■ 


I 
' 


146 


:i:  ! 


!:(!:^ 


1800.  prising,  and  unfeeling  man,  under  whose  iron  rule  the  affairs  of 
the  company  prospered,  and  its  stock  rose  proportionally  in  value; 
his  proceedings  were,  therefore,  always  approved  by  those  to  whom 
he  was  accountable,  and  complaints  against  his  tyranny  were  al- 
ways disregarded. 

The  Russians  engaged  in  the  service  of  the  company,  under 
the  direction  of  the  overseers,  were  distinguished  by  the  general 
name  of  Promvschleniks,  (meaning  speciikitors,)  and  were  em- 
ployed as  hunters,  fishermen,  seamen,  soldiers,  or  mechanics,  as 
their  superiors  might  command.  In  the  best  of  these  situations, 
their  lot  appears  to  have  been  more  wretched  than  that  of  any 
other  class  of  human  beings,  with  the  exception,  perhaps,  of  the 
natives,  whom  they  aided  in  keeping  under  subjection ;  and  it 
therefore  is  not  surprising  that  none  but  vagabonds  and  adven- 
turers should  ever  have  become  promuschleniks.  The  gallant 
and  humane  Krusenstern,  in  the  narrative  of  his  expedition  to 
the  Pacific  in  1804  and  1805,  presents  a  number  of  dreadful  pic- 
tures of  the  sufferings  of  these  unfortunate  persons  from  want  of 
food,  from  the  severity  of  the  climate,  and  from  too  much  labor. 
According  to  the  most  recent  accounts,  it  appears  that  their  situa- 
tion, while  they  are  on  land  at  least,  has  not  been  materially  im- 
proved.* 

The  greater  part  of  the  furs  collected  on  the  northwest  coasts 
of  America  continued  to  be,  during  the  period  mentioned  at  the 
beginning  of  this  chapter,  transported  to  Petro-Paulowsk  and 
Ochotsk,  from  which  places  were  brought  nearly  all  the  articles 
required  for  the  use  of  the  settlements ;  the  remauider  of  the  sup- 
plies being  obtained  from  American  vessels  in  the  manner  al- 
ready described.  The  Russian  Government,  however,  soon  be- 
came desirous  to  exclude  the  vessels  of  the  United  States  from 
the  north  Pacific,  not  only  from  a  wish  to  monopolize  the  ftir 
trade,  but  also  in  order  to  prevent  the  natives  of  the  coasts  from 
procuring  an;  and  ammunition,  with  which  they  were  fur- 
nished by  the  Americans,  to  the  great  detriment  of  the  authority 
and  interests  of  the  Russian  company.  For  this  purpose,  it 
would  be  necessary  to  maintain  a  naval  force  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  settlements,  and  to  establish  regular  communications,  by 
ships,  between  them  and  Europe ;  and,  with  the  view  of  inqui- 
ring how  those  measures  might  be  best  executed,  as  well  as  of 
opening,  if  possible,  some  intercourse  with  Japan  and  the  ports 
of  China,  it  was  determined  that  a  scientific  and  political  expedi- 
tion should  be  made  to  the  north  Pacific. 

1803.  Two  ships,  the  Nadeshda,  commanded  by  Captain  Krusen- 
stern, and  the  Neva,  by  Captain  Lisiansky,  were  accordingly 
despatched  from  Cronstadt  in  August  1803,  carrying  out  the 
chamberlain.  Von  Resanoff,  as  ambassador  to  Japan,  and  pleni- 
potentiary of  the  Russian -American  Company,  together  with  a 
large  body  of  officers  and  rnen  of  science.  These  were  the  first 
vessels,  under  the  Russian  flag,  which  crossed  the  equinoctial 


•  It  will  be  recollected  that  these  accounts  are  derived  from  liusnan  authorities. 


147 


line ;  they  passed  around  Cape  Horn,  and,  touching  at  the  Wash-  1803, 
ington  and  the  Sandwich  Islands,  they  reached  the  coasts  of  the 
north  Pacific  in  the  summer  of  1804.  Without  detaihng  the  sub- 
sequent occurrences  of  the  expedition,  which  lasted  until  the 
summer  of  1806,  it  will  be  sufficient  to  say,  that  none  of  the  po- 
litical or  commercial  objects  proposed  were  attained.  The  Jap- 
anese, as  usual,  refused  peremptorily  to  allow  any  intercourse  to 
be  carried  on  between  their  dominions  and  those  of  Russia  -,  nor 
would  the  Chinese  admit  the  commercial  ships  of  the  latter 
Power  into  Canton.  The  plans  of  Von  Resanoflf  (who  appears 
to  have  been  a  ridiculous  and  incompetent  person)  for  the  man- 
agement of  the  afl'airs  of  the  company  proved  wholly  inapplica- 
ble ;  and  the  propriety  of  immediately  expelling  the  Americans 
from  the  north  Pacific,  even  could  it  be  done,  was  rendered  very 
questionable  by  the  fact  that  the  garrison  and  inhabitants  of 
Sitca  would  have  all  infallibly  perished  from  famine,  in  the  win- 
ter of  1805-'6,  had  they  not  been  fortunately  supplied  with  pro-  1606. 
visions  by  the  ship  Juno  from  Rhode  Island.*  Finally,  what- 
ever may  have  been  the  conclusions  formed  upon  the  informa- 
tion acquired  during  the  expedition,  as  to  the  practicability  of 
maintaining  a  direct  commercial  intercourse,  by  sea,  between  the 
Russian  ports  in  Europe  and  their  settlements  on  the  Pacific, 
certain  it  is  that  no  attempt  for  that  purpose  was  again  made 
until  1814. 

The  expedition  above  mentioned  was,  however,  in  all  respects, 
highly  honorable  to  those  who  conducted  it.  The  accounts  sepa- 
rately published  by  Krusenstern,  Lisiansky,  and  Langsdorf,  par- 
ticularly those  of  Krusenstern,  are  among  the  most  instructive 
works  which  have  appeared  relating  to  the  north  Pacific  and  its 
coasts.  They  exhibit,  indeed,  frightful  pictures  of  the  misery  en- 
dured by  the  persons  in  the  service  of  the  Russian -American  Com- 
pany ;  but  they,  at  the  same  time,  present  instances  of  fortitude, 
perseverance,  and  good  feeling,  on  the  part  of  the  Russians,  cal- 
culated to  counteract  any  unfavorable  impressions  which  might 
otherwise  have  been  formed  with  regard  to  the  general  charac- 
ter of  that  people. 

After  the  return  of  Krusenstern's  ships,  representations  were  1808, 
addressed  by  tl-.e  Russian  Government  to  that  of  the  United 
States,  with  res^ard  to  the  improper  conduct  of  American  citizens 
in  trading  in  arms  and  ammunition  with  the  natives  on  the  coasts 
of  the  north  Pacific ;  and  endeavors  were  made  to  procure  the 
passage  by  Congress  of  some  act,  or  the  conclusion  of  some  con- 
vention between  the  two  nations,  by  the  effect  of  which  such 
commerce  might  be  prevented.  These  representations  producing 
no  results,  Count  Romanzoff",  the  Russian  Minister  of  Foreign 
Affairs,  proposed  to  Mr.  Adams,  the  American  Envoy  at  St.  Pe-  1810. 
tersburgh,  an  arrangement  by  which  the  vessels  of  the  United 
States  should  be  allowed  to  transport  furs  from  the  Russian  set- 
tlements to  China,  on  condition  that  they  should  abstain  from  all 


'I  I 


iifi  ( 


'j  I 


'1 
'ii 

S 

1 


t 


m 


nan  authorities. 


♦  Langsdorf,  vol.  ii,  page  89. 


148 


1810.  trade  with  the  natives  on  the  northwest  coasts.  Mr.  Adams,  in 
his  answer  to  this  proposition,  desired  to  know — within  what  lati- 
tudes the  restriction  would  be  expected  to  be  observed  ?  and  the 
reply  being,  that  the  Russian-American  Company  claimed  posses- 
sion of  the  wliole  coasts  extending  from  Beering's  Strait  to  the 
south^^Ja^d  of  the  Columbia  River,  the  correspondence  was  not 
continued.    An  arrangement  conformable  with  the  views  of  the 

1812.  Russians  was,  in  1812,  concluded  between  their  American  com- 
pany and  a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  but  circumstances  pre- 
vented it  from  being  carried  into  execution. 

Before  1812,  Sitca  was  the  most  southern  portion  on  the  west- 
ern side  of  America  occupied  by  the  Russians.  In  that  year  thoy 
formed  an  establishment  in  California,  which  deserves  particular 
notice.  The  chief  agent,  Baranoff,  obtained  from  the  Spanish 
Governor  of  Monterey  permission  to  erect  some  houses,  and  to 
leuv'o  a  few  men  on  the  shore  of  the  small  Bay  of  Bodega,  near 
Port  San  Francisco,  in  order  to  procure  and  salt  the  meat  of  the 
wild  cattle,  which  overrun  that  country,  for  the  supply  of  the  set- 
tlement at  New  Archangel.  In  the  course  of  two  or  three  years 
after  this  permission  was  granted,  the  number  of  the  persons  thus 
employed  had  become  so  great,  and  their  dwelling-place  had  as- 
sumed so  much  the  appearance  of  a  fortress,  that  the  Governor 
thought  proper  to  remonstrate  on  the  subject;  and  his  represent- 
ations being  disregarded,  he  formally  commanded  the  Russians 
to  quit  the  territories  of  his  Catholic  Majesty.  The  command 
was  treated  with  as  little  respect  as  the  remonstrance;  and  when 
it  was  repeated,  the  Russian  agent,  Kuskoff,  replied  by  denying 
the  right  of  the  Spaniards  over  the  country,  which  he  asserted  to 
be  vacant  and  open  for  occupation  by  the  subjects  of  any  civil- 
ized Power.    The  Governor  was  unable  to  enforce  his  orders ; 

1815.  and  as  no  assistance  could  be  afforded  to  him  from  Mexico,  which 
was  then  ravaged  by  civil  wars,  the  intruders  were  left  in  undis- 
turbed p«ssession  of  the  ground,  where  they  have  ever  since  re- 
mained, in  defiance  alike  of  the  Spaniards  and  of  their  republican 
successors.* 

The  Russian-American  Company,  about  the  same  period,  made 
another  effort  to  create  a  direct  commercial  intercourse  by  sea  be- 
tween its  settlements  on  the  Pacific  and  the  European  ports  of 
the  Empire.  With  this  object,  the  American  ship  Hannibal  was 
purchased  from  Mr.  Astor,  of  Nev  York ;  and  her  name  having 
been  changed  to  the  Suivarrow,  she  was  despatched  from  Saint 
Petersburgh,  in  1814,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant  Lazaref, 
laden  with  goods  fi  i  New  Archangel.  She  returned  in  1816  with 
a  cargo  of  furs,  vEduod  at  a  minion  of  dollars  ;  and  the  adventure 
having  been  pronounced  successful,  others  of  the  same  nature 
were  undertik'm. 

In  1815  Baranoff  endeavored  to  obtain  possession  of  Atooi,  one 


*  The  Russians  have  now  several  establishments  in  that  part  of  California,  of 
which  the  principal,  called  Ross,  is  situated  immediately  on  the  Pacific,  in  latitude 
of  38  degrees  ana  33  minutes,  about  thirty  miles  north  of  Port  Bodega,  or  Port  Ro- 
manzulf,  as  the  Russians  hare  named  it. 


of  the  Si 
men,  nea 
undvA  tht 
the  Piic'ii 
the  islant 
than  a  ye 
they  ento 
they  were 
ernment  i 
tempt  has 
nation  to 
The  Gr 
begun  to 
by  the  Co 
now  be  tr 
The  di; 
attention  i 
been  effec 
the  north 
ac(|uainte( 
connected 
tlie  Ainerit 
United  StJ 
sissippi,  ai 
yojid  the  ? 
iiig  from  tl 
undefined 
tween  the 
completelv 
fireign  an 
French, 
October  I, 
extent,' 
of  Spiin. 
should  be 
Spain  ant 
Under 
territories 
and  barrel 
abortive, 
their  (i()V( 
nent,  wert 
Louisiana 
"  with  all 
manner,  a 
relating  tl 
some  obse 
northwest 
erty  of  tht 
The  ea 
boundarie 
the  patent 


iver  since  re- 


to 


149 

of  the  Sandwich  Islands.  For  tliat  purpose  about  a  Inmdred  I8is 
nien,  nearly  all  Aleutians,  were  sent  in  two  vessels  from  Sitca, 
wiCiVA  tlie  direction  of  Dr.  Sliefter,  a  German,  who  liad  arrived  in 
tlie  Pacific  as  surgeon  to  the  sfiip  Suwarrow.  They  landed  on 
the  island,  which  they  ravaged,  without  subduing  it,  for  more 
than  a  year,  and  were  then  obliged  to  depart  for  Owyhee,  where 
they  entered  the  service  of  sonje  American  whalers,  by  whom 
they  were  finally  restored  to  their  country.  The  Russian  (jlov- 
ernment  appeared  to  disapprove  this  act  of  Baranoff;  and  no  at- 
tempt has  been  since  made  by  subjects  of  that  or  any  other  foreign 
nation  to  invade  those  islands. 

The  Government  of  the  United  States  had  before  this  period 
begun  to  assert  claims  to  the  possession  of  the  territory  drained 
by  the  Columbia  river,  the  origin  and  extent  of  which  claims  will 
now  be  traced. 

The  discovery  of  the  Columbia  by  Gray  attracted  very  little 
attention  in  the  United  States  for  more  than  ten  years  after  it  had 
been  effected.  None  but  persons  concerned  in  the  fur  trade  of 
tlie  north  Pacific,  and  the  curious  in  geographical  matters,  were 
ac(|uainted  with  the  fact;  and  no  one  imagined  that  any  thing 
connected  with  that  river  would  ever  be  considered  important  to 
the  Americans  in  a  |K)litical  point  of  view.  The  territories  of  the 
United  States  were  then  bounded  on  the  west  by  the  river  Mis- 
sissippi, and  on  the  north  by  the  dominions  of  Great  Britain;  be- 
yond the  Mississippi  lay  the  vast  region  called  Louisiana,  stretch- 
ing from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  northward  and  northwestward  to  an 
undefined  extent;  so  that  all  communication,  except  by  sea,  be- 
tween the  Federal  Repul)lic  and  the  Pacific  side  of  America,  was 
completely  barriid  by  the  inierveiuion  of  couniries  belonging  to 
f>reign  and  rival  l^owers.  Louisiana,  originally  settled  by  the 
French,  had  been  ceded,  in  1702,  to  Spain,  which  held  it  luitil 
October  I,  LSOU,  and  then  retroceded  it  to  France,  "the  same  in 
extent,"  says  the  treaty  of  retrocession,  "as  it  now  is  in  the  hands 
of  Spain,  as  it  was  when  France  formerly  possessed  it,  and  as  it 
should  be,  according  to  the  treaties  subseiiuently  made  between 
Spain  and  other  nations." 

Under  such  circumstances,  any  claims  of  the  United  States  to 
territories  bordering  upon  the  Pacific,  would  have  been  nominal 
and  barren,  and  all  attempts  to  realize  them  must  have  proved 
abortive.  But  the  position  of  the  Americans,  and  the  views  of  i8oa 
their  Government  towards  the  northwestern  section  of  the  conti-  April  3«. 
nent,  were  materially  changed  after  the  30th  of  April,  1803,  when 
Louisiana  came  into  their  possession  by  purchase  I'rom  France, 
<'  with  all  its  rights  and  appurtenances,  as  fully,  and  in  the  same 
manner,  as  it  had  been  acquired  from  Spain"  in  1800.  Before 
relating  the  dispositions  made  in  conse(|uence  of  this  cession, 
some  ob-iervations  will  be  necessary  respecting  the  northern  and 
northwestern  limits  of  the  country  which  thus  became  the  prop- 
erly of  the  United  States. 

The  earliest  attempt,  either  real  or  ostensible,  to  define  the 
boundaries  of  Louisiana,  was  made  by  Louis  XIV,  in  1712,  in 
the  patent  by  which  he  granted  to  Antoine  Crozat  the  exclusive 
11 


*!| 


:  Hi 


,:'  t 


'i'  ■■  I 

III 


i  ■ 


M ' 


150 


Iflon.  trade  of  that  country.  The  patent  declares  it  to  be  the  will  of 
the  King,  that  <'  all  the  territories  by  him  possessed,  bounded  by 
New  Mexico,  and  by  the  lands  of  the  English  in  Carolina,  and 
all  the  establishments,  ports,  harbors,  rivers,  especially  the  port 
and  harbor  of  Dauphin  Island,  formerly  called  Massacre  Island, 
the  river  Saint  liouis,  formerly  called  the  Mississippi,  from  the 
seacoast  to  the  Illinois  country,  together  with  the  rivers  Saint 
Philip,  fonnerly  called  the  Missouri,  and  the  Saint  Jerome,  for- 
merly called  the  Wabash,  [the  Ohio,]  with  all  the  lands,  coun- 
tries, lakes  in  the  land,  and  the  rivers  falling  directly  or  indirectly 
into  that  part  of  the  river  Sain .  Louis,  shall  be  and  remain  com- 
prised under  the  name  of  the  Government  of  Louisiana,  which 
shall  he  subordinate  to  the  General  Government  of  New  Franco; 
and  that  all  the  lands  by  him  ptissessed  on  this  side  of  the  Illi- 
nois, shall  be  reunited  to,  and  form  part  of,  the  General  Govern- 
ment of  New  France ;  the  King,  nevertheless,  reserving  to  himself 
the  privilege  of  increasing  the  extent  of  Louisiana,  as  he  may 
judge  proper."  Agreeably  to  this  exposition  of  its  limits,  Louis- 
iana extended,  in  1712,  northward  to  about  the  42d  parallel  ni 
latitude,  and  westward  to  New  Mexico ;  between  which  latter 
country  and  the  Pacific,  California  intervened.  What  portion  of 
the  continent  northward  of  that  parallel,  and  west  of  the  great 
lakes,  the  Illinois  country  thus  attached  to  New  France  was  sup- 
posed to  comprehend,  there  are  no  means  of  ascertaining.  The 
French  maps  of  the  early  part  of  the  last  centiuy  represent  as  in- 
cluded in  Nnc  France  many  rivers  flowing  towards  the  Pacific, 
none  of  which,  however,  exist  as  there  described;  while  the 
Spaniards,  on  the  other  hand,  regarded  the  whole  unoccupied  re- 
gion northwest  of  New  Mexico  as  forming  part  of  their  own  Cal- 
ifornia; and  the  British  geographers  recorded  the  claims  of  their 
nation  to  the  same  territory,  by  constantly  applying  to  it  the  name 
of  Nov  Albion. 

In  1713  the  celebrated  peace  of  Utrecht  was  concluded.  In 
the  tenth  article  of  the  treaty  between  Great  Britain  and  France, 
"  it  is  agreed  on  both  si  les  to  determine  within  a  year,  by  com- 
missaries to  be  f()rthwith  named  by  each  party,  the  limits  which 
are  to  be  fixed  between  the  said  Bay  of  Hudson,"  (then  secureil. 
with  its  adjacent  territories,  to  Great  Britain,)  "  and  the  places 
appertaining  to  the  French:  which  limits  both  the  British  and 
Frencli  subjects  shall  be  wholly  forbid  to  pass  over,  or  thereby 
to  go  to  each  other  by  sea  or  by  land.  The  same  commissaries 
shall  also  have  orders  to  describe  and  settle,  in  like  manner,  the 
bouutlaries  between  the  other  British  and  French  colonies  in 
those  parts."  That  commissaries  were  appointed  agreeably  to 
this  provision,  there  is  reason  to  believe;  but  there  is  no  sufli- 
cient  evidence  that  any  boundaries  were  determined  by  them. 
Two  distinct  lines  may,  however,  be  found  traced  on  different 
maps  published  in  the  last  century,  each  purporting  to  be  the 
limit  between  the  Hudson's  Bay  territories  on  the  north,  and  the 
French  possessions  on  the  south,  fixed  by  commissaries  according 
to  the  treaty  of  Utrecht.  One  of  these  lines  follows  the  course, 
or  supposed  course,  of  the  highlands  which  separate  the  waters 


151 


f.^''' 


flowing  into  Hudson's  Bay  from  those  emptying  into  the  great 
lakes  and  the  Saint  Lawrence.  The  other  is  drawn  irregularly 
from  the  Atlantic  to  a  point  in  the  49th  parallel  of  latitude,  south 
of  the  southernmost  part  of  Hudson's  Bay,  and  thenc(!  w(\stward 
ak  ng  that  parallel  to  Red  River;  and  in  some  maps  still  farther 
west.  This  latter  line  is  generally  considered  in  the  United 
States,  and  has  been  assumed  by  their  Government,*  as  the  true 
boundary  settled  by  the  commissaries,  agreeably  to  the  treaty 
above  mentioned;  but  this  opinion  is  at  variance  with  the  most 
accredited  authorities,  as  will  be  seen  by  reference  to  the  Appen- 
dix, [E,]  containing  a  review  of  all  the  works  from  which  exact 
information  could  be  expected. 

In  1717,  Crozat  relinquished  his  exclusive  privileges  with  re- 
grird  to  Louisiana;  after  which,  the  Illinois  country  was  added 
to  that  province  by  a  royal  arret,  and  the  whole  territory  was 
granted  to  the  Compnguie  d^  Orient,  generally  known  as  Law's 
Mississippi  Company.  In  1763,  France  gave  up  to  Great  Britain 
all  her  possessions  east  of  the  Mississippi,  except  a  small  tract 
near  New  Orleans,  having,  a  short  time  previous,  ceded  the  re- 
mainder of  Louisiana  to  Spain. f  By  these  arrangeinents,  the 
middle  of  the  Mississippi,  from  its  source,  to  the  river  Iberville, 
near  New  Orleans,  became  the  dividing-line  between  tbe  British 
possessions  on  the  east  and  those  of  Spain  on  the  western  side, 
nothing  being  fixed  with  regard  to  territories  north  of  the  said 
source;  and  from  that  period  to  1803,  when  Louisiana  became 
the  property  of  the  United  States,  its  extent  towards  the  north  or 
northwest  could  not  have  been  aifected  by  any  treaty  hitherto 
made  public,  unless  by  the  convention  of  October,  1790,  between 
Spain  and  Great  Britain,  which  applied  to  all  American  territories 
claimed  by  Spain  upon  the  Pacific,  north  of  the  38th  degree  ol' 
latitude. 

From  the  preceding  review,  it  will  be  seen  that  history  fur- 


1503. 


I 


'  'ii 


$A 


'lit 


;  i 


;l 


.I'l 

':l!l 


♦  The  earliest  official  assertion  to  this  effect,  on  the  part  of  the  Government  of  the 
United  Slates,  which  has  been  found,  is  contained  in  tlie  following  -sentence  ex- 
tracted from  a  letter  addressed  by  Messrs.  Monroe  and  Pinckney,  at  Madrid,  on  the 
20th  of  April,  1805,  to  Don  Pedro  Cevallos,  the  Spanish  Minister  ofStaie:  "In  wn- 
formity  with  the  tenth  article  of  the  first-mentioned  treaty,  [treaty  of  Utrecht,]  the 
boundaiy  between  Canada  and  Louisiana,  on  ilie  one  side,  and  the  Hudson's  Bay 
and  Northwestern  Companies  on  the  other,  was  established  bv  commissaries,  by  a 
line  to  commence  at  a  cape  or  promontoiy  on  the  ocean  in  5S  degrees  31  minutes 
north  latitude;  to  run  thence  south  westward  ly  to  latitude  49  north  from  the  equator, 
and  along  that  line  indefinitely  westward." 

t  The  act  by  which  France  ceded  Louisiana  to  Spain  was  signed  at  Fontaine- 
bleau  by  the  F*rench  minister,  the  Due  de  Choiseul,  and  the  Spanish  ambassador, 
the  Marques  de  Grimaldi,  on  the  3d  of  November,  17G"2.  It  was  ratified  by  the  King 
of  Spain  on  the  I3th  of  the  same  month,  and  by  the  Kmg  of  France  on  the  'J3d. 
These  documents  were  kept  secret  until  183G,  when  copies  of  them  were  obtained 
from  the  Departments  of  Foreign  Affairs  of  France  and  Spain,  by  the  late  J.  M. 
White,  of  Florida;  and  translations  of  them  by  the  writer  of  this  memoir  were  sub- 
mitted to  the  Senate  of  the  United  States,  and  published  by  its  order,  in  1837. 
The  act  of  cession  throws  no  light  on  the  question  as  to  the  limits  of  Louisiana. 
The  words  of  the  original,  describing  the  territory  ceded,  are:  "Sa  Majesto  tres 
Chrelienne  c6de  en  tente  propricte,  purement  el  simplement,  et  sans  aucnne  excej)- 
tion,  a  sa  Majeste  Catholique,  et  a  ses  successeurs,  a  perpetuite,  tout  le  pays  connii 
sous  le  nom  de  la  Louisiane,  ainsi  que  la  Neuvelle  Orleans,  et  Tile  dans  laquelle  cetie 
viUe  est  situce." 


:a'  i 


a1 


if!  I 


II 


152 

iwr.,  iiislips  no  moans  of  determining  what  wort  the  pnicisc  hmits  of 
lionisiana  on  the  nortli  or  nortliwest,  when  that  cojintry  raitio 
into  the  possession  of  tlio  United  States.  The  customs  of  civil- 
ized nations  in  such  cases,  however,  authori/e  the  assumption 
that  those  limits  comprehended  the  whole  region  west  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi drained  hy  that  river  and  its  tributary  streams;  while  the 
name  customs  prohibit  the  supposition  tliat  any  territory  west  ol 
the  Rocky  Mountains  should  be  considered  as  part  of  Louisiana. 
Even  before  the  cession  of  Louisiana  to  tho  United  States  had 
been  completed,  the  prompt  and  sagacious  Jei'biaon,  then  Presi- 
dent of  the  Republic,  was  preparing  to  have  that  part  of  the  con- 
tinent examined  by  American  agents.  On  the  18th  o^  January, 
1803,  he  address(Hl  to  the  Congress  of  the  Lnited  States  a  confi. 
dt'utial  message,  recommending  that  means  should  be  taken  fur 
that  purpose  without  delay ;  and  his  suggestions  having  been  ap- 
proved, he  commissionecl  Captains  Meriwether  Lewis  and  Wil- 
liam Clarke  to  carry  his  plan  into  execution.  Those  officers 
were  instructed  to  explore  the  river  Missouri  and  its  principal 
branches  to  their  sources,  and  then  to  seek  and  trace  to  its  teriiii 
nation  in  the  Pacific,  some  stream,  "whether  the  Columbia,  the 
Oregon,  the  Colorado,  or  any  other,  which  might  ofl'er  the  most 
direct  and  practicable  water  communication  across  the  continent, 
for  the  purposes  of  commerce."* 

A  few  days  after  the  delivery  of  these  instructions  to  Lewis,  as 
commander  of  the  expedition,  the  news  of  the  cession  of  Louis- 
iana reached  the  United  States,  and  he  immediately  set  otf  for 
the  west.  Some  difficulties,  however,  prevented  his  party  from 
crossing  the  Mississippi  in  that  year;  and  it  was  not  until  the 

1804.  14tli  of  May,  1804,  that  they  entered  the  Missouri,  and  began  its 
ascent  in  boats.  Their  progress  was  necessarily  slow;  yet,  beli>re 
the  end  of  October,  they  arrived  in  the  country  of  the  Mandan  In- 
dians, where  they  remained  until  the  following  April,  encamped 
at  a  pluoe  situated  sixteen  hundred  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the 

1^!/,  Missouri.  In  the  summer  of  1805,  they  explored  that  river  to  its 
head-\\  aters,  among  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and,  having  crossed  the 
great  dividinj-ridge,  they  found  immediately  beyond  it  a  number 
of  streams  flowing  westward.  Upon  one  of  these  they  embarked 
in  canoes  on  the  7th  of  October,  and  were  soon  carried  by  its 
current  into  a  river,  which  they  called  the  Lewis,  and  which 
proved  to  be  a  principal  branch  of  the  Columbia.  In  a  Tew  days 
t!iey  reached  the  confluence  of  the  Lewis  with  the  other  great 
branch  named  by  them  the  Clarke ;  and  on  the  16th  of  Novem- 
ber they  landed  at  Capo  Disappointment,  or  Hancock's  Point,  on 
the  northern  side  of  the  entrance  of  the  Columbia  into  the  Pacific, 
after  a  journey  of  more  than  four  thousand  miles  from  their  place 
of  departure. 

1800.        Tiie  winter  of  1805-'6,  was  passed  by  Lewis  and  Clarke,  and 


♦  These  instructions  may  be  found  at  length  in  the  biographiral  sketch  of  Captain 
Lewis,  written  by  iVIi.  Jeflerson,  and  prefixed  tothejournalof  the expediiion, primed 
»t  Philadelphia  in  IH14.  The  message  atiure  menlioned  is  contained  in  the  execu- 
tive proceedings  of  the  Senate,  vol.  i,  page  439. 


their  follo^^ 
itiiiibia,  ne 

sivagcs,  wl 
ijors,  condi 
t()od,  stich 

i:nh  of  Mi 

Ifnited  Sta 
its  falls,  siti 
the  I'acific. 
Kocky  Moi 
routes ;  the 
falls  of  tlie 
a  southern 
srended  tin 
jiist  below  1 
oi  Septembi 

'Vhe  uho\ 
expedition 
which  won 
to  the  prior 
Britain,  in 
minister,  di 
servations : 

"  In  repli 
that  their  r 
confirmed  h 
by  the  ex{)l( 
and  Clarke, 
prove,  that, 
years,  her  I 
;igent  Mr.  ' 
Flat-head  a 
of  the  Coin 
principal  st 
this  particu 
title  of  pari 
to  the  lJnit( 
of  the  Ame 
tlie  river,  3 
to  ascertain 

As  the  w 
indefinite, 
stated  some 
Pacific  Oce 
most  easteri 
the  15th  of 
ter  be  show 
ment  of  the 
through  ill 
tablished  t 
Frazor's  \.i 
has  been  ol 


t^iso  limits  of 
ouiitry  rainn 
oms  of  civil- 
!  ussiunptioti 
»t  of  tlu)  Mis- 
is;  while  ilio 
ritory  west  of 
:)(  Louisiana. 
id  States  had 
),  then  Presi- 
rt  of  the  con- 
1  o^  January, 
States  a  confi- 
I  be  taken  for 
zing  been  ap- 
wis  and  Wil- 
hose  officers 
its  principal 
e  to  its  teriiii- 
/olunibia,  tlie 
[)fler  the  nidsi 
the  continent, 

s  to  Lewis,  as 
ion  of  Louis- 
DJy  set  off  for 
lis  party  from 
not  until  tlic 
and  began  its 
w ;  yet,  beli>re 
le  Mandan  In- 
iril,  encamped 
mouth  of  the 
hat  river  to  its 
ing  crossed  the 
id  it  a  number 
ihey  embarked 
carried  by  its 
is,  and  which 
In  a  Tew  days 
he  other  great 
)th  of  Novem- 
»ck's  Point,  on 
ito  the  Pacific, 
rom  their  place 

id  Clarke,  and 


1  sketch  of  Capiain 
expedi>iou,priiueil 
Ekined  in  ihe  ezecu- 


153 

their  followers,  in  an  encampment  on  the  sonth  side  of  the  Co-     i8ao. 
liuiibia,  near  its  mouth,  whicli  they  called  rint  f 'hitsitp.     'V\\Q 
■(iivages,  who  were  already  accusturued  to  the  prescMice  of  slran- 
ijers,  conducted  themselves  peac(>al)|y;  and  th(T«j  was  no  want  of 
t()0(l,  s!i»rh  as  conid  bo  procured  from  the  river  or  sea.     On  tho 
l.'^tli  of  March,  IHOfi,  the  Americans  began  their  return  to  tho 
United  States,  in  canoes,  which  tliey  rowed  up  the  Coluiidiia  to 
its  falls,  situated  about  one  Inuidred  and  twenty-five  miles  from 
tlie  Pacific.    Thence  they  continued  their  journey  by  latid  to  tlie^ 
Kocky  Mountains,  which  they  crossed  in  two  bodies  by  separate  July. 
routes;  tlie  one  tinder  Lewis  striking  directly  eastward  to  tho 
falls  of  the  Missouri,  while  the  other,  conducted  by  Clarke,  mado 
a  southern  march  to  the  sources  of  the  Yellow  Stone,  and  de- 
scended that  river  to  the  Missouri.    The  parties  were  again  united  Au;,'.  i  <. 
jnst  below  the  point  of  jutiction  of  those  streams,  and  on  the  2od 
of  September  they  arrived  at  Saint  liouis. 

'J'he  above  sketch  will  serve  to  show  the  general  course  of  the 
expedition  of  liOwis  and  Clarke;  a  more  extended  account  of 
which  would  be  either  insntlicient  or  superfluous.  With  regard 
to  the  priority  of  their  discoveries,  the  plcnipoteni'  •  ies  of  (ireat 
Britain,  in  the  stnteinetU  presented  by  them  I  k;  American 
ininister,  during  the  negotiation  in  182(5,  make  the  ll)llo\ving  ob- 
servations : 

"  In  reply  to  tho  allegations,  on  the  part  of  the  United  States, 
that  their  claim  to  the  country  in  question  is  strengthened  and 
confirmed  by  the  discovery  of  the  sources  of  the  (Columbia,  and 
by  the  exploration  of  the  course  of  that  river  to  the  sea,  by  Lewis 
and  Clarke,  in  ISOS-'O,  (Jreat  Britain  alfirms,  and  can  distinctly 
prove,  that,  if  not  before,  at  least  in  the  same  and  subsequent 
j'^ears,  her  Northwest  Trading  Company  had,  by  means  of  their 
:ia:ent  Mr.  Thompson,  already  established  their  posts  among  the 
Flat-head  and  Kootanie  tribes,  on  the  head-waters  or  main  branch 
of  the  Columbia,  and  were  gradually  extending  them  down  the 
principal  stream  of  that  river;  thus  giving  to  (ireat  Hritain  in 
this  particular,  as  in  the  discovery  of  the  mouth  of  the  river,  a 
title  of  parity  at  least,  if  not  of  priority  of  discovery,  as  opposed 
to  the  United  States.  It  was  from  these  ]K)sts  that,  having  heard 
of  the  American  establishment  forming  in  l^SlI  at  the  mouth  of 
tlio  river,  Mr.  Thompson  hastened  thither,  descending  the  river 
to  ascertain  the  nature  of  that  establishment," 

As  the  words  "  iu  the  same  atui  suhseiiumt  years''^  are  rather 
indefinite,  the  dates  of  the  occurrences  above  mentioned  will  be 
stated  somewhat  more  exactly.  Lewis  and  Clarke  reached  the 
Pacific  Ocean,  after  exploring  the  Columbia  River  from  one  of  its 
most  eastern  head-waters  in  the  Rocky  Mountains  to  its  mouth,  on 
the  15th  of  November,  1S05.  In  the  spring  of  IHOti,  as  will  hereaf- 
ter be  shown,  Mr.  Simon  Frazer,  and  other  persons  in  the  employ- 
ment of  the  Northwest  Company,  crossed  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
through  the  great  gap  near  the  56th  degree  of  latitude,  and  es- 
tablished the  first  British  trading-post  west  of  that  chain,  on 
Frazor's  Lake,  about  two  degrees  farther  south ;  but  no  evidence 
has  been  obtained  that  British  subjects  had  ever  visited  any  part 


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23  WIST  MAIN  STRUT 

WnSTIR.N.Y.  14510 

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154 

I'^OC.  of  the  country  drained  by  the  Columbia,  above  the  falls  of  that 
river,  before  the  summer  of  1811.  In  that  year,  Mr.  Thompson, 
astronomer  of  the  Northwest  Company,  and  his  party,  on  their 
way  down  the  stream,  for  the  purpose  of  anticipating  the  Amer- 
icans at  its  mouth,  did  build  some  huts  on  the  northern  branch, 
and  did  there  open  trade  with  the  F^lat-head  and  Kootanie  In 
dians  ;  and  from  those  posts  Mr.  Thompson  did  indeed  hasten 
down  to  the  ocean,  where  he,  however,  found  the  citizens  of  the 
United  States  in  full  possession. 

if ""  Soon  after  the  return  of  Lewis  and  Clarke,  an  effort  was  made 
by  the  Governments  of  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain  to  fix 
the  boundary  between  the  possessions  of  the  two  Powers  in 
America  Avest  of  the  Mississippi  and  the  lakes.  By  the  fifth  ar- 
ticle of  the  convention,  agreed  on  at  London  in  April,  1807,  be- 
tween Messrs.  Monroe  and  Pinckney,  on  the  one  part,  and  the 
Lords  Holland  and  Auckland,  on  the  other,  it  was  stipulated 
that  "  a  line  drawn  due  north  or  south  (as  the  case  may  require) 
from  the  most  northwestern  point  of  the  Lake  of  the  Woods,  until 
it  shall  intersect  the  49th  parallel  of  north  latitude,  and,  from  the 
point  of  such  intersection,  due  west,  along  and  with  the  said 
parallel,  shall  be  the  dividing-line  between  his  Majesty's  territo- 
ries and  those  of  the  United  States,  to  the  westward  of  the  said 
lake,  as  for  as  their  said  respective  territories  extend  in  that  quar- 
ter ;  and  that  the  said  line  shall,  to  that  extent,  form  the  south- 
ern boundary  of  his  Majesty's  said  territories  and  the  northern 
boundary  of  the  said  territories  of  the  United  States  :  Provifhd, 
That  nothing  in  the  present  article  shall  be  construed  to  extend 
to  the  northwest  coast  of  America,  or  to  the  territories  belonging 
to  or  claimed  by  either  party  on  the  continent  of  America  to  the 
westward  of  the  Stoney  Mountains."  This  article  was  approved 
by  both  Governments ;  President  Jefferson,  nevertlieless,  wished 
that  the  proviso  respecting  the  northwest  coast  should  be  omitted, 
as  it  *"  could  have  little  other  effect  than  as  an  offensive  intima- 
tion to  Spain  that  the  claims  of  the  United  States  extend  to  the 
Pacific  Ocean.  However  reasonable  such  claims  may  be,  com- 
pared with  those  of  otliers,  it  is  impolitic,  especially  at  the  present 
moment,  to  strengthen  Spanish  jealousies  of  the  United  States, 
which  it  is  probably  an  object  with  Great  Britain  to  excite,  by  the 
clause  in  question."  The  convention,  however,  was  not  con- 
cluded ;  and  no  other  negotiation,  relative  to  boundaries  west  of 
the  great  lakes,  took  place  between  the  British  and  American 
(jiovernments  until  1814. 

A  narrative  of  the  expedition  of  Lewis  and  Clarke,  compiled 
from  the  journals  of  those  officers  and  of  some  of  their  men,  was 
pubUshed  at  Philadelphia  ia  1814;  the  most  material  circum- 
stonces  and  discoveries,  however,  became  generally  known  im- 
mediately after  the  return  of  the  exploring  party,  and  the  infor- 
mation led  to  commercial  enterprises  on  a  large  scale  in  the  Uni- 
ted States  and  in  British  America.     Before  noticing  these  eiiter- 


*  Letter  of  JuV^30th,  1807,  from  Mr.  Madison,  then  Secretary  of  State  of  the 
United  States,  to  Messrs.  Monroe  and  Pinckney. 


Id5 


f,  and  the  in  fol- 
ic ale  in  the  Uni- 
iiiff  these  enter- 


tary  of  Slate  of  the 


prises  more  particularly,  it  should  be  mentioned,  that  ever  since 
the  conclusion  of  the  treaty  of  commerce  and  navigation  of  1794, 
between  tlie  United  States  and  Great  IJritain,  a  considerable  trade 
liad  been  carried  on  by  Americans  with  the  Indians  inba1)iting 
the  coinitries  about  tlie  Upper  Mississippi  and  Lake  Superior. 
The  returns  from  this  trarfic  were  made  exclusively  in  furs, 
which  were  transported  to  New  York,  and  thence  shipi)ed  for 
London  or  Canton ;  the  business  was  conducted  chielly  under 
the  direction  and  by  means  of  the  funds  of  John  Jacob  Astor, 
a  German  merchant  of  large  capital  residing  in  New  York  ;  though 
many  individuals  in  the  western  States  and  Territories  of  the  re- 
public were  engaged  in  it  on  their  own  account,  especially  after 
the  acquisition  of  Louisiana,  which  opened  a  nmch  Avider  field  for 
their  exertions.  Still,  the  greater  portion  of  the  furs  sent  from 
America  were  those  collected  by  the  British  trading  companies, 
which  were  continually  extending  their  establishments  west- 
ward, and  even  southward,  within  the  supposed  limits  of  the 
United  States,  to  the  annoyance  of  the  citizens  of  that  republic. 
To  all  these  individuals  and  associations  the  discoveries  of 
Lewis  and  Clarke  presented  new  views  of  advantages,  which 
each  endeavored  without  delay  to  appropriate. 

The  British  fur-traders  made  their  first  establishment  beyond 
the  Rocky  Mountains  in  1800.  An  expedition*  for  this  purpose 
had  been  contemplated  by  them  in  the  preceding  year,  in  conse- 
quence of  information  respecting  the  views  of  the  American  Gov- 
ernment, obtained  while  Lewis  and  Clarke  were  spending  the 
winter  of  ISOl-'S  at  the  Mandan  town  on  the  Mississippi ;  but  it 

*  The  statements  in  this  parag;raph  are  derived  principally  from  D.  W.  Hurmnn's 
Journal  of  his  Voyaj^es  ax\A  Travels  in  the  northern  pans  of  America,  nulilisiicd  at 
Andnvcr,  in  Vermont,  in  1800.  Harmon  was  lirsi  a  clerk,  and  at'ierwarils  a  partner, 
in  the  Northwest  Company,  and  for  several  years  presided  over  all  its  establishments 
west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.    Some  extracts  from  his  journal  may  be  here  inserted. 

Sri/untuj/,  Novcuhcr  -24,  1804. — Some  people  have  just  arrived  from  Montagne 
la  Biis-^e,  with  a  letter  from  Mr.  Chahoillez,  who  informs  me  that  two  captains, 
Clarke  and  Lewis,  with  one  hundred  and  eighty  soldiers,  have  arrived  at  the  Man- 
dan  village,  on  the  Missouri  River,  which  place  is  situated  about  three  days'  distance 
from  the  residence  of  Mr.  Chaboillez.  They  have  invited  Mr.  Chaboillcz  to  visit 
them.  It  is  said  that,  on  their  arrival,  llicy  hoistefl  the  American  flag,  and  informed 
the  native.s  that  their  object  was  not  to  trade,  but  merely  to  explore  ilie  country,  and 
that,  as  soon  as  the  navigation  shall  open,  they  design  to  continue  their  route  across 
the  Elocky  Mountains,  and  thence  descend  to  tlie  Pacifi.'  Ocean. 

Wa!ricsihni,  April  10, 1805. — Wliile  at  MoniaKue  la  Rasse.  Mr.  Chabnillez  induced 
me  to  consent  to  undertake  along  and  arduous  tour  of  discoveiy.  I  am  to  leave 
that  place  about  the  beginning  of  June,  accompanied  by  six  or  seven  Canadians  and 
two  or  three  Indians.  The  first  place  at  whicli  we  shall  stop  will  be  the  Mandan 
village,  on  the  Missouri  River;  thence  we  shall  steer  our  course  towards  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  accompanied  by  a  number  of  the  Mandan  Indians,  who  proceed  in  that 
direction  every  spring,  to  meet  and  trade  with  another  tribe  ol  Indians,  who  reside 
on  the  other  side  of  tlie  Rocky  Mountains.  [This  journey  I  never  undertook ;  a 
Mr.  La  Roquc  attempted  to  make  this  tour,  but  went  no  faither  than  the  Mandan 
village.] 

At  page  281  he  s^ays:  "Tlie  part  of  the  country  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
with  which  I  am  acquainted,  has  ever  since  the  Norlluvest  Company  first  made  au 
establishment  there,  which  was  in  1800,  gone  by  the  name  of  New  Caledonia,"  ikc. 
In  many  parts  of  his  work  he  speaks  of  Mr.  Simon  Frazcr  as  having  led  the  (irst 
party  of  traders  beyond  the  Rocky  Mountains  in  180(i. 

A  review  of  the  work  may  be  iound  in  the  London  Quarterly  Review  for  Janua- 
ly,  182-2. 


180^ 


1800. 


Ill 


i|' 


':.'' 


11 


156 


I 


i 


It 


H906.  was  not  ofvrried  into  effert  until  the  spring  of  1S06,  wlion  Mr.  Si- 
mon Frazer,  a  partner  of  the  Northwest  (Join])any,  estahhshed  a 
trading-post  on  haz('r''s  Laho,  near  the  54th  parallel,  in  tiie 
conntry  snice  called  New  Caletlnnia. 

The  earliest  attempts  made  hy  citizens  of  the  United  States, 
for  similar  purposes,  were  those  of  an  association  ibrmed  at  St, 
Louis  in  180S,  called  the  Missouri  Mir  Conipamf ;  at  its  head 
was  an  enterprising  Sjianiard,  named  Manuel  Lisa,  through 
whose  exertions,  chietiy,  several  trading-jxtsts  were,  within  the 
two  ensuing  years,  established  on  the  tipper  Missouri,  and  one 
beyond  the  Rocky  Mountains,  on  the  head-waters  of  the  Lewis, 
the  southern  branch  of  the  Columbia.  The  post  on  the  Lewis 
appears  to  have  been  the  first  ever  formed  by  white  men  in  the 
country  drained  by  the  Columbia;  the  enmity  of  the  savages  in 
its  vicinity,  and  the  difficulty  of  procuring  a  regular  supply  of 
food,  however,  obliged  Mr.  Henry,  the  superintendent,  to  aban- 
don it  in  1810. 

isio.  Another  association,  for  the  prosecution  of  the  fur  trade  on  the 
northwestern  side  of  the  continent,  which  was  formed  at  New 
York  in  1810,  re(]uires  particidar  notice,  as  the  transactions  con- 
nected with  it  have  assiuned  a  character  decidedly  political.  This 
association  was  called  the  Pacific  I'hr  ChmpaiiijJ*  Its  originator 
was  John  Jacob  Astor,  the  German  merchant  above  mentioned,  on 
whose  commercial  sagacity  and  efficiency  it  would  be  needless 
to  dilate.  He  was,  in  fact,  the  company;  one-half  of  its  shares 
were  held,  nominally  at  least,  by  other  persons,  but  every  meas- 
ure was  dictated  by  him,  and  carried  into  effect  by  means  of  his 
capital.  His  plan  was  to  establish  trading-posts  on  the  Colum- 
bia and  its  branches,  as  well  as  on  the  Pacific  coasts  and  the 
head-Avaters  of  the  Missouri,  which  Avere  to  be  supplied  with  the 
necessary  articles,  either  by  way  of  the  latter  river,  or  from  a 
principal  factory,  to  be  founded  at  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia, 
whither  all  the  furs  collected  at  the  other  places  were,  at  stated 
periods,  to  be  brought.  The  principal  factory  was  to  receive 
goods  by  ships  sent  out  annually  from  New  York,  Avhich,  hav- 
ing discharged  their  cargoes  at  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia, 
Avere  to  be  reladen  Avith  furs  for  Canton,  Avhence  they  Avould 
carry  back  to  New  York  teas,  silks,  and  other  Chinese  produc- 
tions.    It  Avas  also  contemplated  that  the  Russian  settlements  on 


♦  The  sketch  of  the  history  of  the  Pacific  Company,  which  fullows,  has  been  de- 
rived from — 

I.  Leiter  IVoin  .T.  J.  A>tor  to  Mr.  Adams,  then  Secretiiry  of  Siaie,  dated  January 
23,  18-j:{,  Willi  ildftiineiits  annexed,  puhlished  wiili  President  Monroe's  me>saj;e  ti> 
Constess,  olihc  "iTih  olihi'  same  inontti.  Oiher  letters,  tmpniili'-lieil,  from  Mr.  As- 
tor, have  also  been  examined,  and  many  curious  details  liave  been  received  lioin 
him  verbally. 

II.  Astoria,  or  Anecdotes  of  an  Enterprise  beyond  the  RiK'ky  Mountains:  by 
Wasbinfjion  Irving;  compiled  chieily  from  the  papers  of  Mr.  Astor.  The  wuik  is 
loo  \>cll  known  ti  requite  farther  observations  re^peciinir  it. 

III.  Ad'.'fimiris  on  the  Colimibia  River :  by  Rrss  Ccx.  The  nuihor  had  been  em- 
ployed as  a  e  eiU  in  the  Pacilie  Cumjiniiy,  which  he  quilted  for  a  similar  sitiiaiien 
nnder  the  Northwest  Coinpnny  ;  his  book  eoniains  many  details  relative  lo  ibe  fur 
trade  and  it:i  e&tabli^hmenl  in  the  region  of  the  Columbia. 


157 


/Al 


llow.«,  has  been  ile- 


thc  Pacific  should  bo  furnished  by  the  company's  vessels  with  1810. 
such  fiireign  articles  as  they  required,  furs  boint,'  taken  in  ex- 
chanu;e  -,  and,  in  order  to  elfect  this  more  completely,  as  well  as 
to  prevent  the  occurrence  of  dilHeulties,  which  might  otherwise 
be  anti'^ipiited,  an  agent  was  despatched  to  St.  I\'tersburi,'h,  who 
concluded  an  arrangement  secnring  to  the  Pacilic  Company, 
under  certain  conditions,  the  exclusive  privilege  of  trading  with 
the  llussian  American  possessions. 

For  the  execution  of  these  plans,  Mr.  Astor  engaged,  as  part- 
ners in  the  concern,  a  niunber  of  persons,  nearly  all  Scotchmen, 
who  had  been  long  in  the  service  of  the  Northwest  Company, 
together  with  some  Americans  and  Canadians,  who  were  ac- 
quainted with  tlie  fur  trade.  I'hese  partners  were  to  conduct  the 
business  in  the  west,  under  the  direction  of  a  general  agent,  cho- 
sen by  them  for  five  years ;  and  they  were  to  share  among  them- 
selves one  half  of  the  profits,  the  other  half  being  retained  by  Mr. 
Astor,  who  advanced  all  the  funds,  and  superintended  the  affairs 
at  New  York.  The  persons  requireil  for  the  inferior  offices  and 
employments  having  been  also  engaged,  the  first  party  (juitted 
New  Vork  for  tlie  Columbia  in  Seyjtember,  1810,  in  the  ship 
Tonquin,  commanded  by  Jonathan  Thorne;  in  Jamiary  follow- 
ing, the  second  detachment  set  out  from  St.  Louis,  on  its  way 
across  the  continent,  under  the  direction  of  Wilson  Price  Hiuit, 
of  New  .Jersey,  wlio  had  been  appointed  general  agent  by  the 
board  of  partners.  The  ship  Enterprise,  Captain  Ebhetts,  had 
also  been  sent  in  lhU9  to  the  North  Pacific,  to  make  prepara- 
tory researches  and  inqtiiries  among  the  Russian  settlements, 
and  on  the  coasts  which  were  to  be  the  scenes  of  the  new  com- 
pany's operations. 

'^I'he  Tonquin  arrived  at  the  mouth  of  the  (Columbia  in  March,  Hii 
1811;  and,  her  goods  and  passengers  having  been  there  landed,  ^l'i'^'>'-'' 
she  sailed  towards  the  north  in  search  of  furs.  Before  her  de- 
parture, a  spot  was  chosen  on  the  south  l)ank  of  the  river,  eight 
miles  from  the  ocean,  as  the  site  of  the  principal  factory,  which, 
in  compliment  to  the  originator  of  the  enterprise,  was  named 
Astniin.  In  the  course  of  the  ensuing  siunmer,  the  most  essen- 
tial huildings  were  erected,  gardens  were  planted,  trade  was  be- 
giui  with  the  natives,  a  small  vessel  was  built  and  launched,  and 
every  thing  appeared  to  promise  success  to  the  establishment. 

In  July  a  detachment  of  persons  in  the  service  of  the  North- July, 
west  Company  arrived  at  Astoria,  under  the  direction  of  Mr. 
Thompson,  the  astronomer  of  that  association,  who  had  left  Mon- 
treal in  the  previous  year,  with  the  object  of  anticipating  tlie  new 
company  in  occupying  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia.  On  their 
way  down,  they  huilt  huts  and  hoisted  Hags,  and  bestowed  names 
on  various  spots,  by  way  oitalciinr  possession,  as  they  considered 
it,  of  the  territory  fir  their  sovereign.  They,  however,  arrived 
too  late  at  the  most  important  point ;  and  were  obliged  to  retrace 
their  course  to  the  northward,  having  been  received  and  treated 
with  great  attention  at  the  factory  by  their  old  friends,  Messrs. 
McDougall,  Mackay,  and  Stuart,  the  partners  of  the  Pacific 
Company,  then  directing  its  affairs  in  the  west.     From  the  in- 


i- 


158 


l:i 


f  ' 


i 


lRl-2. 
May  9 


ISII.  formation  which  has  been  obtained,  it  appears  to  be  certain  that 
by  this  party  were  estabhshed  the  first  Hritish  trading-posts  on 
the  Columbia ;  and  that  they  were,  indeed,  the  first  white  men 
who  ever  navigated  the  northern  branch  of  that  river. 

In  the  course  of  this  summer,  also,  several  trading-posts  were 
established  by  the  Pacific  Fur  Company  in  the  interior  of  the 
country ;  of  which,  the  principal  was  one  situated  at  the  conflu- 
ence of  a  river,  called  the  Okanagan,  with  the  Columbia,  about 
four  hundred  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  latter.  During  the 
winter  which  followed,  the  people  of  Astoria  were  subjected  to 
many  discomforts,  but  nothing  occurred  calculated  to  lessen  their 
hopes  as  to  the  ultimate  success  of  the  undertaking. 

Meanwhile,  the  other  party  of  the  Pacific  Company's  men, 
proceeding  from  St.  Louis,  under  Mr.  Hunt,  ascended  the  Mis- 
souri, to  the  country  of  the  Arickara  Indians,  near  the  Great  Bend 
of  the  river,  and  thence  pursued  their  journey  by  land  to  the 
Rocky  Mountains.  After  passing  this  ridgc,  near  the  45th  de- 
gree of  latitude,  they  descended  one  of  the  branches  of  the 
Lewis,  (probably  that  now  called  Salmon  Hirer,)  to  the  Columbia, 
and  reached  Astoria  in  the  spring  of  1812,  having  undergone 
innumerable  difficulties  from  cold,  fatigue,  and  want  of  food. 
Scarcely  had  they  amved  at  the  factory,  when  news  was  received 
of  the  destruction  of  the  ship  Tonquin  and  her  whole  crew,  with 
the  exception  of  the  Indian  interpreter,  at  one  of  the  inlets  near 
Nootka  Sound  ;  the  creAV  were  overpowered  by  the  savages,  who 
killed  the  greater  part  of  them  innnediately,  and  the  vessel  was 
then  blown  up  by  the  clerk  and  others  who  had  taken  refuge  in 
the  hold.  This  disaster  was  calculated  to  depress  the  hopes  of 
the  persons  engaged  in  the  enterprise ;  their  courage,  however, 
appears  to  have  been  undiminished,  and  they  pursued  their  la- 
bors diligently,  being  confident  that  the  company  (that  is  to  say, 
Mr.  Astor)  could  beai'  much  heavier  pecuniary  losses  without  in- 
jury to  its  credit. 

In  May,  1812,  the  Astorians  were  still  farther  encouraged,  by 
the  arrival  of  the  ship  Beaver  from  New  York  with  supplies  and 
reinforcements ;  and  it  was  determined  (unfortunately  for  the 
cause,  as  will  afterwards  appear)  that  Mr.  Hunt  should  sail  in 
her  to  the  northern  coasts,  and  visit  the  Russian  settlements,  in 
order  to  see  what  commercial  intercourse  could  be  carried  on 
with  them.  He  accordingly  took  his  departure  in  that  vessel  in 
Aug.  August,  leaving  the  atfairs  of  the  factory  under  the  direction  of 
Mr.  Duncan  McDougall,  one  of  the  Scotch  partners,  who  had 
been  so  long  in  the  service  of  the  Northwest  Company. 
1813.  In  January,  1813,  the  news  of  the  declaration  of  war  by  the 
January.  United  States  against  Great  Britain  reached  Astoria,  where  it  was 
brought  by  persons  sent  for  the  purpose  from  New  York ;  and,  in 
the  course  of  June  following,  Mr.  McTavisli,  one  of  the  partners 
of  the  Northwest  Company,  arrived  at  the  factory  from  Canada, 
bringing  rumors  of  the  approach  of  a  British  naval  force  to  take 
possession  of  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia.  These  announce- 
ments appear  to  have  been  received  with  satisfaction  by  Mr. 
McDougall  and  his  brother  Britons,  three  of  whom  (including 


certain  that 
ig-pnsts  on 
white  men 

!;-posts  were 
erior  of  the 
,  the  conflu- 
mbia,  about 

During  the 
subjected  to 

lessen  their 

)any's  men, 
ed  the  Mis- 
Great  Bend 
land  to  the 
the  45th  de- 
iches  of  the 
le  Columbia, 
>  undergone 
ant  of  food, 
was  received 
le  crew,  with 
le  inlets  near 
savages,  who 
le  vessel  was 
cen  refuge  in 
the  hopes  of 
»ge,  however, 
iueO  their  la- 
Lhat  is  to  say, 
s  Avithout  in- 

icouraged,  by 
supplies  and 
lately  for  the 
hould  sail  in 
ettlements,  in 
be  carried  on 
that  vessel  in 
e  direction  of 
ers,  who  had 
any. 

)f  war  by  the 
,  where  it  was 
York ;  and,  in 
f  the  partners 
from  Canada, 
\  force  to  take 
se  announce- 
iction  by  Mr. 
)m  (including 


159 

Ross  Cox,  the  author  of  Six  Years  on  the  Columbia)  immedi-     181S, 
ately  (piitted  the  service  of  the  Pacific  Company,  and  entered 
that  of  the  rival  association ;  while  the  others  almost  unanimously 
agreed  to  abandon  the  enterprise,  unless  they  should  speedily  re- 
ceive assistance  and  supplies  from  New  York. 

From  Now  York,  however,  notliing  came.  The  ship  Lark  had 
been  despatched  by  Mr.  Astor  with  articles  and  men  for  Astoria ; 
but  she  was  wrecked  near  the  coast  of  one  of  the  Sandwich 
Islands,  in  the  latter  part  of  1S13.  The  Government  of  the  Uni- 
ted Stales  had  ulso  determined,  in  consequence  of  Mr.  Astor's 
representations,  to  send  the  frigate  Adams  to  the  north  Pacific, 
for  the  protection  of  the  infant  settlement ;  but,  just  as  she  was 
about  to  sail  from  New  York,  it  became  necessary  to  transfer  her 
crew  to  Lake  Ontario,  and  the  blockade  of  the  American  ports  by 
British  fleets  rendered  all  farther  efforts  to  convey  succors  'to  As- 
toria unavailing. 

Soon  after  the  partners  of  the  Pacific  Company  had  formed  the 
resolution,  as  above  mentioned,  to  abandon  the  concern  unless 
they  should  receive  assistance,  Mr.  Hunt,  the  chief  agent,  re-  Aug.  *2(). 
turned  to  Astoria  in  the  ship  Albatross.  He  had  spent  the  sum- 
mer of  1S12  in  visiting  the  Russian  settlements  at  Sitca,  Una- 
lashka,  and  Kodiak,  and  had  collected  a  valuable  cargo  of  furs, 
which  wore  carried  to  Canton  in  tlie  Beaver.  Hunt,  however, 
accompanied  that  ship  no  farther  than  to  the  Sandwich  Islands, 
where  he  was  informed  of  the  war  between  the  United  States 
and  Great  Britain ;  and,  being  anxious  to  convey  the  news  with- 
out delay  to  Astoria,  he  chartered  the  ship  Albatross  of  Boston, 
which  was  then  lying  at  Wahoo,  and  proceeded  in  her  to  the 
Columbia.  He  was  at  first  astounded  at  the  resolution  adopted 
by  the  other  partners,  but  he  was  at  length  induced  to  concur 
with  them  as  to  its  propriety ;  and,  after  remaining  a  few  days, 
he  again  sailed  to  the  south  Pacific,  in  the  Albatross,  for  the  pur-  Aug.  -26. 
pose  of  finding  some  ship  to  convey  the  furs,  tlien  stored  in  the 
factory,  to  Canton.  At  Nooahevah,  (one  of  the  Washington 
Islands,  discovered  by  Ingraham  in  1791,)  he  learned  that  a  Nov. 
British  squadron,  under  Commodore  Hillyer,  was  on  its  way  to 
the  Pacific,  in  order  to  occupy  the  month  of  the  Columbia;  upon 
receiving  this  news,  he  hastened  to  the  Sandwich  Islands,  and, 
having  there  chartered  the  American  brig  Pedlar,  he  sailed  in 
her  for  Astoria,  wliere  he  arrived  on  the  28th  of  February,  1814. 

The  fate  of  the  Pacific  Company,  and  of  its  establishments  in 
Northwest  America,  had,  however,  been  decided  ere  the  arrival 
of  the  Pedlar  in  the  Columbia. 

On  the  7th  of  October  a  body  of  men  in  the  service  of  the  Oct.  7. 
Northwest  Company  came  down  the  river  to  Astoria,  under  the 
directioii  of  Messrs.  McTavish  and  Stuart.  They  arrived  with- 
out either  ammunition  or  provisions,  while  the  people  of  the 
factory,  who  nearly  equalled  them  in  number,  were  well  sup- 
plied in  every  respect,  and  tlieir  fortifications  and  heavy  guns 
would  have  enabled  them  to  withstand  any  attacks  which  might 
have  been  anticipated  under  ordinary  circumstances.  The  new 
comers,  however,  brought  information,  upon  which  the  partners 


ii, 


t] 


uo 


fiff 

i^HM' 

VIki' 

'mI^' 

'j^^jn. 

mI' 

m 

i 

( 

J»il3.  at  Astoria  could  depond,  and  which  proved  to  bo  perfectly  correct, 
that  a  lars^e  armed  ship,  the  /soar  'Ihtftf,  liad  been  fitted  out  at 
Jjondou,  by  the  Northwest  (Jonipauy,  and  was  on  her  way  to  the 
(Joluiidiia,  under  convoy  of  a  friirate,  wi//i  the  nh'/fct  of  ttilcin;^ 
ami  «hstroi/in<r  vrfnj  tliiii<x  Anivrinvi  in  that  quarter.  Messrs. 
McTavish  and  Stuarl,  on  comnuiuicating  this  news,  to  which 
they  added  accounts  of  the  complete  blockade;  of  the  coasts  of  the 
United  States  by  Mritish  squadrons,  at  the  same  time  proposed  to 
purcliase  the  whole  of  the  establislunenls,  furs,  and  other  proper- 
ty of  the  l*acific  Company,  in  the  territory  of  th(;  CoIund)ia,  at 
prices  to  be  fixed  by  couuuon  consent;  they  also  otiered  to  engage 
in  the  service  of  the  Northwest  Company  any  of  the  persons  at- 
tached to  the  American  concern,  at  the  same  wages  which  they 
were  then  receiving,  and  to  send  back  to  the  United  States  such 
as  might  not  ciioose  to  be  thus  employed.  To  these  propositions 
the  partners  at  Astoria  resolved  to  assent;  and  an  agreement  was 
accordingly  signed,  between  them  and  the  chiefs  of  the  other 

Oct.  10.  party,  on  the  lOth  of  the  niontli,  by  whidi  '■^  nil  the,  ostnhlish- 
VK'tits,  furs,  and  prnpcrli/,''^  above  mentioned,  were  sold  to  the 
Northwest  Company,  fi>r  about  forty  thousand  dollars,  given  in 
the  shape  of  bills  on  Montreal.* 

The  business  appears  to  have  been  managed,  on  the  side  of 
the  Pacific  ('ompany,  almost  entirely  by  Mr.  McDougall,  whose 
conduct  on  many  occasions,  during  the  transaction,  as  well  as 
afterwards,  was  such  as  to  induce  suspicions  that  he  was  actu- 
ated by  improper  motives  of  self-interest.  It  is,  however,  diffi- 
cult to  determine  what  other  course  ought  to  have  been  pursued 
by  him  and  the  other  partners,  under  existing  circumstances. 
They  might,  indeed,  have  held  out  their  stockaded  fort  against 
the  enemy,  or  have  eflfected  a  retreat  with  their  property  to  some 
place  in  the  interior;  but  this  would  have  been  to  no  purjiose, 
while  they  could  expect  neither  to  receive  supplies  of  goods  for 
trading  from  the  United  States,  nor  to  send  their  furs  fir  sale  to 
Canton.  Mr.  Astor  declares  that  he  would  have  preferred  the  loss 
of  the  place  and  property  by  a  fair  capture  to  a  sale  which  he 
considered  disgraceful;  and  those  who  know  him  well  are  con- 
vinced that  he  speaks  as  he  feels.  But  mercantile  meti  are,  in 
general,  supposed  to  consider  discretion  among  their  agents  as 
the  better  part  of  valor;  and  McDougall  may  have  reasonably 
considered  himself  bound  to  act  rather  for  the  interests  than  for 
the  glory  of  the  Pacific  Company. 

Dec.  1.  While  the  business  of  the  transfer  of  the  furs  and  merchandise 
at  Astoria  was  in  progress,  the  British  sloop  of  war  Racoon  en- 
tered the  Columbia,  under  the  command  of  Captain  Black,  who 
had  hastened  thither  in  hope  of  securing  a  rich  share  of  plunder 
by  the  capture  of  the  fort  and  magazines  of  the  Pacific  Com- 
pany.    He  found  the  flag  of  the  United  States  waving  over  the 


♦  This  contract  may  be  found  at  length  in  the  American  State  Papers,  edited  by 
Louiic  and  Franuliii,  (Mi.scellancuus,)  vol.  ii,  page  Kill.  The  fimrih  article  con- 
tains a  complete  list  of  all  "  the  fslablishvients,  furs,  and  slock  on  lumd"  with  their 
lespective  valuation;  the  buildings  ate  valued  at  £-200. 


w 


•lly  rormct, 
tto(t  out  ilt 
way  to  tlio 
'  of  /ii/i-in:c 
r.     Mt'ssrs. 
<,  to  which 
nasts  of  tlic 
proposed  to 
ilior  propor- 
oliUTibia,  at 
il  to  engage 
persons  at- 
^vhich  they 
States  such 
propositions 
eenient  was 
if  the  oilier 
'le  pstnhlish- 
sokl  to  the 
irs,  given  in 

the  side  of 
igall,  wliose 
I,  as  well  as 
e  was  aetii- 
wever,  difli- 
een  pursued 
runistances. 

fort  against 
erty  to  sonic 

no  purpose, 
of  goods  for 
rs  fiir  sale  to 
rred  the  loss 
le  which  he 
fell  are  con- 
!  men  are,  in 
Mr  agents  as 
3  reasonably 
ests  than  for 

merchandise 
r  Racoon  en- 
1  Black,  who 
re  of  plunder 
Pacific  Com- 
bing over  the 


Papers,  edited  by 
iiirili  aiticle  con- 
%nd"  wiih  their 


161 

factory,  which  was  surrendered,  itnmcdiately  on  his  appearance,  ISi^ 
by  the  chief  agent  McDougiiU ;  but  the  furs  and  goods  which 
were  to  reward  himself  and  his  crew  lor  tlieir  exertions,  had  be- 
come the  property  of  their  own  fellow-subjects,  and  were  then 
floating  up  the  river  in  the  barges  of  the  Northwest  Company. 
The  cujjtain  of  the  Racoon  could,  therelore,  only  lower  the  flag  Dec.  \i 
of  the  United  States,  and  hoist  that  of  IJritain  over  the  factory, 
the  name  of  which  he  at  the  same  time,  and  with  due  sokmniti/y 
changed  to  Fort  George.  These  duties  being  completed,  he  took 
his  departure  for  the  south.* 

Three  months  afterwards,  (that  is,  on  the  28th  of  February,  1814 
1814,)  Mr.  Huntf  arrived  at  the  Columbia  in  the  brig  Pedlar,  Feb.  an 
which  he  had,  as  already  stated,  chartered  lor  the  purpose  of  con- 
veying the  property  of  the  Pacific  Company  to  Canton.  He 
found  Mr.  McDougall  in  charge  of  the  factory,  not,  however,  as 
an  agent  of  that  comp;iny,  but  as  a  partner  of  the  Northwest 
Company,  into  which  he  had  been  already  admitted ;  and  Hunt 


•  It  will  be  interesting,  if  not  useful,  here  to  insert  the  account  of  the  capture  of 
A.sioriii,  a->  lelaled  l>y  lluss  Cox,  vvlio  rcceivuil  liis  xnibimaiion  al  the  place,  shortly 
aliiTihu  event. 

"(,'a()iaiii  Biuek  look  possession  of  Astoria  in  (he  name  of  his  Britannic  iVlajesty, 
and  rebapuzed  it  by  the  name  ol  '  Fori  Ijeorf^e.'  He  also  msisietl  on  having  un  in- 
ventory taken  of  lUe  valuable  slock  ol  fuis,  and  ail  odier  proptrty  purciia.sed  from 
the  Ainciican  ct^mpany,  Willi  a  view  lotlie  iidop  ion  ol  iilieiior  pioixeduiif.-s  in  t£,ug- 
land  lor  ihe  recoveiy  oi  the  value  Irvtin  the  Noiihwesi  dinj/any ;  but  he  subsequeiu- 
ly  reliii(|uisiied  ihis  idea,  and  we  lieard  no  more  auout  Ins  ciuims.  Tne  tndian»>  at 
the  uiuUlU  of  t..e  iJoliiinbia  Knew  well  that  Ureal  iiiiiam  and  Aineiica  were  dis- 
tinct nations,  and  thai  they  were  then  ai  wai,  but  weie  ignorant  of  me  arrangement 
inaile  between  .Messrs.  iVletJoujja II  anti  Mc  I'avish,  ihe  loiiner  of  whom  still  con- 
tinued us  nominal  chief  at  the  fort.  On  the  arrival  of  the  Uacoon,  which  they 
quicKly  dl.^covered  lo  be  one  ot  'King  Uiorge's  hghiiiig  shi^is,'  iliey  repaired  armed 
to  ilie  fort,  and  rii:qiie.->ied  an  audience  id'  Mi.  M  Uoiigail.  He  wa.--  somewliai  sur- 
pilsed  at  ilieir  numbers  and  warlike  appearance,  and  demanded  tlie  object  ot  such 
an  unusual  visit.  i;ouiconiiy,  ine  pnn<  ipal  chut  ol  the  t^hinooks,  (whose  daughter 
Mc-Uougall  hail  man  led,)  iheieiipou  addressed  hi.ii  in  a  long  .speecli ;  in  the  course 
of  wliicli  lie  said  thai  King  Ueorge  iiad  sent  a  ship  full  of  wurrii^is,  and  loaded 
Willi  i.ot.iing  bill  big  guns,  to  take  the  Americans  and  make  tliem  all  slaves,  and  ihat, 
as  ihey  (ihd  Americans)  were  ihe  lirsi  while  men  who  settled  in  their  country, 
and  treated  the  llldian^  .ike  good  lelaiions,  iliey  had  resolved  to  defend  iheni  fiitm 
King  George's  wifimrs,  and  were  now  ready  lo  conical  themselves  in  the  woods 
close  to  the  wliarf,  iiom  whence  they  would  be  able  wnh  ilieir  guns  and  arrows  to 
shoot  all  the  men  that  shouid  attempt  to  land  from  ihe  Englisn  boats,  while  ihe 
people  in  the  for.  could  lireai  ihem  with  iheir  big  guns  and  nlies.  'I'his  projiosi- 
tion  was  utuied  with  an  eainesiness  of  mjiiiier  thai  adiniaed  no  doubi  oi  is  sin- 
ceiiiy;  iwo  armed  boats  from  the  Hacoon  were  appioaehing,  and,  had  the  people 
IB  Ihe  fort  fell  disixised  to  accede  lo  the  wishes  ol  the  Indians,  every  man  in  thim 
Would  nave  been  ties  royed  by  an  invisible  enemy.  iVJr.  McUougall  ihankeil  them 
for  their  fnendly  oiler ;  but  added,  that  noiwnhstanding  the  naiions  were  at  war, 
the  (leople  in  ilie  hoais  would  not  injure  him  or  any  ol  his  people,  and,  therefore, 
requested  tin  in  lo  ihrow  by  their  war  shiri>  and  arms,  and  receive  the  .siranners  as 
then  frionds.  I'hey  ai  lirst  seemed  asioni>hed  at  ilns  answer;  hut,  tm  a.ssuring  ihein 
in  the  ninsi  posiiive  manner  that  he  was  iiiuler  no  apinehcnsions,  ihey  consenlcd  to 
give  up  their  weap.ms  for  a  few  days.  Tiiey  afterwanls  ikclareil  tliey  were  sorry 
lor  havii.g  c  mplied  With  Mr  Mi Dougali's  wishes ;  for  when  tliey  observed  Cap- 
tain Black,  suriounded  by  his  olhceis  and  niaiines,  bicak  Ihe  boii  e  of  port  on  the 
flag  siatf,  and  lioisi  ihe  Briiish  ensign  aliei  ehanging  ihe  name  of  the  Ibit,  ihey  re- 
marned  thai,  however  we  mighi  wish  to  conceal  the  lad,  ihe  Americans  were  un- 
doubtedly m;ide  ^laves;  and  ihey  were  not  convinced  ot  their  mistake  until  the  sloop 
of  war  had  departed  without  laiiing  any  pri.soneis." 

t  Mr.  Hunt  is  now  the  postmaster  ai  St,  Louis, 


•(I 


^'k 


'hS 


fl: 


ri 


ili 


14^1 


i; 


163 


:ll 


a\ 


18H.  had,  therefore,  merely  to  close  the  concerns  of  the  former  associa- 
tion in  that  part  of  America,  and  to  receive  the  bills  given  in  pay- 
ment f!)r  its  effects.  Having  done  this,  ho  re-cmharked  in  the 
Pedlar;  and,  taking  witli  him  three  of  his  former  companions  in 
trade,  he  sailed  for  the  United  States,  by  way  of  Canton.  Of 
the  other  persons  who  had  been  connected  with  this  enterprise, 
some  engaged  in  the  service  of  the  Northwest  Company,  and 
some  returned  across  the  continent  to  the  United  States. 

Such  was  the  termination  of  the  Astoria  enterprise,  for  no  at- 
tempt has  l)een  since  made  by  the  Pacific  Company,  or  by  any 
of  its  members,  to  form  a  trading  establishment  on  the  north- 
west coast  of  America.  The  scheme  was  most  wisely  projected, 
and  its  failure  can  scarcely  be  attributed  to  any  circumstances, 
the  occurrence  of  which  might  have  been  anticipated  when  its 
execution  was  begun.  That  ships  might  be  lost  at  sea,  and  that 
the  adventurers  might  suffer  from  cold,  or  hunger,  or  the  attacks 
of  savages — casualties  such  as  those  were  to  be  expected,  and 
provision  was  made  against  them ;  but  in  1810,  when  the  Ton- 
quin  sailed  from  New  York,  no  one  anticipated  that  before  the 
end  of  two  years  the  United  States  would  have  been  at  war  with 
the  most  powerful  maritime  nation  in  the  world.  The  war  trav- 
ersed every  part  of  the  plan.  Communications  between  the  ports 
of  the  United  States  and  the  Columbia  by  sea,  were  rendered 
difficult  and  unceitain ;  while  those  by  land  were  of  little  advan- 
tage, and  were  liable  to  interruption  by  the  Northwest  Company; 
besides  which,  the  furs  could  no  longer  be  transported  with  safety 
to  Canton.  Moreover,  all  the  most  active  and  skilful  persons  in 
the  employment  of  the  Pacific  Company,  except  Mr.  Hunt,  were 
British  subjects,  whose  feelings  of  attachment  for  their  native 
land  and  its  cause  naturally  rendered  them  discontented,  when 
they  were  thus  placed,  in  a  manner,  conspicuously  among  the 
ranks  of  its  enemies.  If  Mr.  Astor  may  be  considered  as  having 
acted  impmdently  in  any  part  of  his  arrangement,  it  was  certain- 
ly in  engaging  so  large  a  proportion  of  persons  unconnected  with 
the  United  States  by  birth,  citizenship,  or  feelings,  in  the  forma- 
tion of  establishments  which  were  so  essentially  American  in 
character  and  objects.  That  those  establishments  should  have 
fallen,  must  be  a  subject  of  regret  to  every  American,  as  there 
can  be  little  if  any  doubt  that,  had  they  been  maintained  until 
the  termination  of  the  war,  the  enterprise  would  have  succeeded, 
and  the  whole  region  drained  by  the  Columbia  would  now  be  in 
the  quiet  and  undisputed  possession  of  the  people  of  the  United 
States. 


.Mi 


Tirr  associa- 


163 


CHAPTER  IX. 


1!! 


<! 


Rc>unaiii)n  of  ilin  soltlcmenl  at  the  inouth  of  ihe  Columbia  to  the  United  Sinte.s, 
agrcenbly  lo  the  tieniy  of  Ghent,  and  siil)si'(|iient  nssertions  of  the  BiitishGovern- 
meni  with  re^nrd  to  ilinl  net — Convention  of  October,  IHIH  between  Great  Britain 
anil  the  United  Slates,  relative  to  the  countrie.s  west  of  the  Koeky  Mountains — 
Florida  iieaiy  between  Spain  and  the  United  Stales,  eoucluded  in  IHIK — lleinarks 
on  the  convention  of  1791) — Procecilinj;s  in  the  Con'^ress  of  ilic  United  Stales  rel- 
ative to  the  northwest  coasts,  in  the  year  iHiO  and  in  subsecjiient  years — Measures 
aitoiiled  by  Great  Britain  with  re;{ard  to  those  territories,  in  lM'21 — AetofFarlianieni 
est:iijlisliinf,'  jiirisdietioii  of  Britisii  eouris  ihrouyhoiit  the  Indian  countries  of  North 
Ainericn— Coalition  of  Ihe  Hudson's  Bay  and  the  Northwest  Companies— Decree 
of  the  Russian  Kiimeror  in  lHv{l,and  nei^olintions  bctwein  the  Qovernincnts  of 
Ihe  Uiiiied  Slates,  Gieai  Britain,  and  Uussia,  lor  the  settlement  of  their  several 
ciaiiiis— Cohveniiuiis  of  Ib'il  between  Uussiii  and  the  United  Stales,  and  of  \H-2b 
between  Russia  and  Great  Britain— Renewal,  in  lHv2*,  of  the  convention  of  IHlH 
between  Great  Britain  and  the  Uniteil  States — Nejijotiaiion  lietween  the  American 
and  the  Ilu.Nsinn  GovernmenLs  relative  lo  the  renewal  of  the  fourth  article  of  the 
convention  of  IHiJl. 

TiTE  rapture  of  Astoria  was  not  known  to  tlic  plenipotentiaries 
of  the  United  States  at  Ghent,  when  they  signed  the  treaty  of 
Decemher  24, 1814.  That  treaty  contained  no  allusion  to  boun- 
daries west  of  the  Lake  of  the  Woods;  the  subject,  however,  had 
been  discussed  during  the  negotiation,  and  the  American  minis- 
ters were  instructed  l)y  their  (Joverimient  to  consent  to  no  claim 
on  the  part  of  Great  Britain  to  the  jxist  at  the  mouth  of  the  Co- 
lumbia, or  to  any  other  territory  south  of  the  line  forming  the 
northern  boimdary  of  the  United  Stat«?s,  which  was  considered 
as  running  along  tiic  4Uth  parallel  of  latitude.  The  representa- 
tives of  the  Republic  at  Ghent  accordingly  proposed  that  the  said 
parallel  siionld  form  the  dividing-line  between  the  British  terri- 
tories on  the  north  and  those  of  the  United  States  on  the  south, 
to  the  westward  of  the  Lake  of  the  Woods,  "as  far  as  the  said  re- 
spective territories  extend  in  that  quarter:  ProvhUd,  That  nothing 
in  the  present  article  shall  be  construed  to  extend  to  the  north- 
west coast  of  America,  or  to  the  territories  belonging  to,  or  claim- 
ed by,  either  party  on  the  continent  of  America,  to  the  westward 
of  the  Stoney  Mountains."  The  Britisli  accepted  the  proposi- 
tion ;  but  they  insisted  on  adding  to  it  a  stipulation,  that  their 
subjects  should  at  all  times  have  access  through  the  territories  of 
the  United  States  to  the  Mississippi,  and  the  right  of  navigating 
that  river;  which  being  rejected  by  the  Americans,  the  subject  of 
boundaries  west  of  the  Lake  of  the  Woods  was  dropped. 

♦  By  the  first  article  of  the  treaty  of  Ghent,  it  was  nevertheless 
agreed,  "  that  all  tejritory,  places,  and  possess'ions  whatsoever, 

*  See  President  Monroe's  message  to  Congress  of  April  11, 1815,  with  the  docu- 
ments annexed ;  also,  the  statement,  presenieil  by  the  British  ministers  at  London  to 
Mr.  Gallatin,  on  the  iJGth  of  Decemner,  18"2('),  amon^'  the  documents  accompanying 
President  Adams's  message  to  the  House  of  Representatives  of  March  15, 1828. 


IKIl. 


ill 


i\\ 


"  . 


164 


lHir>.  tnh'n  hij  ntltrr  part  if  from  (hr  nflirr  thinnn  or  nffrr  tliv  vv//-."  px 
(•('[)t  ••('itiiiii  islniids  in  tin  Alliinlic  fliiiiii('(l  by  hotli,  ^^  sluhihl  l,r 
ri's/iifti/  irif/iniif  t/i'hn/;"  iilid  Mr.  .Moilioc,  tlii'll  {^ncrctiiry  (if  S|,i|(. 
of  ilir  I iiiii(Mi  Stiitcs,  !ii-('iir(liiii;ly  uiiiioiiiictHi  to  tli<*  Uiitisli  rli:ii>>£ 
(riiHaiics  at  \Vasliiii;;lnii,  in  Jnly,  IS|'>,  tlic  intention  of  the  l'n:s- 
idcnt  to  cause  the  post  at  the  mouth  of  the  (.'oininhia  to  he  re- 
()e.cii|)i»'(l  inunediately.     No  measure  for  that  purpose  was,  ho\v- 

iHir  ever,  taken  until  the  latter  part  of  IS17,  when  Mr.  J.  IJ.  Prevost 
and  ('aptain  J.  Hiddh,',  tlu;  eonunander  of  the  sloop  of  war  Onta- 
rio, were  jointly  coitunissioiuHl  to  proceed  to  tlio  mouth  of  the 
(/olimdiia,  nnd  tfuTe  to  nss(!rt  tin;  elaim  «)f  the  IFiiited  States  to 
tlie  .sovereignty  of  the  country,  in  a  fri(Midlv  and  peaceful  man- 
ner, and  witluuit  th<j  employment  <tf  force.  Mr.  A.stor  had,  in  the 
mean  time,  made  s<!veral  ap|)licution.s  to  the  (jovermnent  fir  its 
aid  towards  the  re-cstahhshment  of  his  factori(!s  in  that  (|uarter; 
and  it  was  chietly  in  c()tise(|uence  of  his  solicitations  that  these 
measuroH  were  adopted. 

The  Ontario  sailed  from  Now  York  for  tho  Pacific  on  the  Ith 
of  October,  1H17,  under  the  conmumd  of  Captain  Uiddle,carryins? 
out  also  the  other  cotmnissioner,  Mr.  I'revost.  In  the  (()llo\vinj,' 
ni(tnt!i  Mr.  Hagot,  the  IJritish  envoy  at  Washinuton,  addressed  tn 
the  Secretary  of  Slate  some  in(|uiries  resjHj.'tiug  the  destination 
of  that  ship,  and  the  objects  of  her  voyage;  and  having  been  in- 
formed on  those  points,  he.  in  a  succeeding  corrmmnicaticn,  re- 
Nov  C6.  monstraled  against  at:)  attempt  by  the  Umted  States  to  otvupy 
the  country  adjacent  to  the  Columbia,  contending  that  tlie  whole 
region  belonged  to  (jJreat  Britain,  "Iniving  been  early  tak«'n  |)os- 
sessiou  of  in  his  Majesty's  name,  and  been  ever  sim-o  considered 
as  part  of  his  Majesty's  dominions;"  and  that  the  establishment 
there  made  by  American  citizens  bad  been  voluntarily  abandon- 
ed, "under  an  agreement  with  the  Northwest  (>ompany,  which 
had  purchased  their  effects,  and  had  ever  since  retained  j)e.iceablc 
possession  of  the  coast." 

1818  As  soon  as  the  news  of  the  departure  of  tlie  Ontario  and  of  the 
objects  of  her  voyage  reached  liondon,  Lord  llathurst,  the  IJiiiisli 
Secretary  for  the  Colonial  Department,  despatclujd  an  order  to  the 
agents  of  the  Northwest  Company  at  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia, 
directing  them  to  give  due  facility  for  the  re-occupation  of  that 
Jan.  20.  settlement  by  the  officers  of  the  United  States,  in  pursuance;  of 
the  first  article  of  the  treaty  of  Ghent;  and  a  similar  onler  was 
sent  from  the  Admiralty  to  the  commander  of  the  British  naval 
Feb.  1.  fonies  in  the  Pacific.  About  the  same  time,  Ijord  Castlereagh 
proposed  to  Mr.  Rush,  the  American  envoy  at  London,  that  the 
question  respecting  the  possession  of  the  [K)st  on  the  Columbia 
should  be  referred  to  commissioners.  To  this  Mr.  Rush  objected, 
on  the  simple  grounds  that  the  spot  was  in  the  possession  of  the 
United  States  before  the  war,  and  that  it  fell  by  belligerent  cap- 
ture into  the  hands  of  Great  Britain  during  the  war;  which  fiicts 
being  notorious,  there  could  be  no  doubt  that  it  should  be  re- 
stored agreeably  to  the  treaty.  Lord  Castlereagh,  upon  this,  ad- 
mitted the  full  right  of  the  Arnerir^ans  to  be  reinstated,  and  to  be 
the  party  in  possession  while  treating  of  the  title;  although  he 


we. 


165 


1 1' 


I /if  1/7/r."  ox 
I,  "  s/io'i/if  ftr 
I'tiiry  <il  f^iiii)! 
tiitisli  I'liiiii^^ 
II  of  the  l*r(!.s- 
iihia  to  !)•'  re- 
»s('  was,  Imw- 
J.  1).  I'lvvosl 
I  of  war  Oiitu- 
niontli  ol'  the 
litoiJ  States  to 
pouciiful  man- 
or had,  in  tli)> 
rmiK'nt  ftr  its 

I  that  iiuaitcr; 
ins  that  those 

ific  on  the  Ith 
iil(lle,rariyint; 
the  followinj; 
»,  addressed  to 
[\w  d*!stiiiatioii 
uving  been  in- 
nnnieati(  n,  re- 
ites  to  oc'Mipy 
that  the  wliolo 
arly  taken  pos- 
n<'(;  c»insideieil 
'.  cstahUshiiient 
tarily  abandon- 
)inpany,  whieh 
lined  peaceable 

tario  and  of  the 
irst,  the  IJriiish 
an  order  to  the 
f  theCohnnbia, 
npation  of  that 

II  pursuance  of 
inilar  order  was 
e  Uritisli  naval 
jrd  Castlereagh 
Diidon,  tliat  the 
1  the  (Johnnbia 
Rush  obj»!Cted, 

)ssession  of  the 
belligerent  cap- 
ar;  which  tacts 
t  should  be  re- 
I,  upon  this,  ad- 
tatcd,  and  to  be 
e;  although  he 


cjcprnssotl  his  rof^rot  nt  the  manner  adopted  by  tho  United  States    1818, 
to  obtain  tho  restitution,  which  lie  feared  niiglit  occasion  some  dif-  F^'l^ruary 
ficidty.    Mr.  Rush  ussurud  him  that  the  intentions  of  the  Ameri- 
can Government  were  in  every  resjMjct  aniicable,  and  that  partic- 
ular care  had  been  taken  to  avoid  all  cause  of  ill  feeling. 

•  The  Ontario  entered  tho  Pacific  early  'n  1818;  and  it  was 
agreed  between  tho  two  commissioners,  that  ('aptain  Hiddlo 
should  proceed  in  her  to  the  Columbia,  and  take  jxissession  of  tho 
territory,  while  lilr.  Prevost  should  remain  in  Chili  to  attend  to 
some  other  business.  Conformably  with  this  arrangement,  Bid- 
dlo  sailed  to  tho  Columbia,  which  ho  entered  in  August;  and  on 
the  I9th  of  that  month  ho,  without  any  opposition,  displayed  tho 
flag  of  tho  United  States,  and  asserted  tneir  claims  to  the  river 
and  the  surrounding  territory;  after  which  ceremonies,  ho  re- 
turned to  the  8outh  Pacific. 

In  the  mean  time  Commodoro  Bowles,  commanding  tho  Brit- 
ish noval  forces  in  tho  river  of  La  Plata,  received  an  order  from 
his  (jJovernment  to  aid  in  tho  surrender  of  the  post  on  tho  Co- 
lumbia to  any  American  officer  who  might  be  commissioned  to 
receive  it.  This  order  was  transmitted,  with  directions  to  see  it  July, 
executed,  to  Captain  Sheriff,  tho  senior  officer  of  the  British  ships 
in  the  Pacific,  who  detached  Captain  F.  Hickey  in  the  frigate 
Blossom  for  that  purpose;  and  tho  latter  gentleman,  meeting  Mr. 
Provost  at  Valparaiso,  offered  him  a  passage  to  the  northwest 
coast,  with  the  object  of  effecting  the  proposed  transfer.  The 
American  commissioner  accepted  the  offer,  and  embarked  in  the 
Blossom  in  August.  On  the  1st  of  October  the  ship  entered  the 
Columbia;  and  on  the  (ith,  tho  settlement  of  Fort  George,  or  As- 
toria, was  surrendered  to  Mr.  Prevost,  in  due  form,  by  Captain 
Hickey,  and  James  Keith,  the  superintendent  for  the  Northwest 
Company  at  this  place. 

That  no  reservation  of  rights  on  the  part  of  Great  Britain  Avas 
made  on  this  occasion,  the  following  copies  of  the  acts  of  delivery 
and  acceptance,  the  only  documents  which  passed,  will  fully 
show.    Tho  act  of  delivery  is  as  follows : 

"  In  obedience  to  the  commands  of  his  Royal  Highness  tho 
Prince  Regent,  signified  in  a  despatch  from  the  right  honorable 
the  Earl  Bathurst,  addressed  to  the  partners  or  agents  of  the 
Northwest  Company,  bearing  date  the  27th  of  January,  1818,  and 
in  obedience  to  a  subsequent  order,  dated  the  26th  of  July,  from 
W.  H.  Sheriff,  Esq.,  captain  of  his  Majesty's  ship  Andromache, 
we,  the  undersigned,  do,  in  conformity  to  the  first  article  of  the 
treaty  of  Ghent,  restore  to  the  Government  of  the  United  States, 
through  its  agent,  J.  B.  Prevost,  Esq.,  the  settlement  of  Fort 
George,  on  the  Columbia  River.  Given  under  our  hands,  in  trip- 
licate, at  Fort  George,  (Columbia  River,)  this  6th  day  of  October, 
1818. — F.  Hickey,  Captain  of  his  MaJesty^s  ship  Blossom. 
J.  Keith,  of  the  Northwest  Company." 

*  The  following  account  of  the  restoration  of  the  settlement  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Columbia  to  the  iJnited  States,  is  taken  from  Mr.  Prevost's  letter  to  the  Secretary  of 
State,  written  from  Monterey,  November  11,  1818,  and  published  with  President 
Monroe's  message  to  Congress  of  April  17,  lSi2, 

12 


H 


!.<! 


166 


1818.       To  which  Mr.  Pi-ovost  returned  this  acceptance : 

"  I  do  hereby  acknowledge  to  have  this  day  received,  in  behalf 
of  the  Government  of  the  United  States,  the  possession  of  the 
settlement  designated  above,  in  conformity  to  the  first  article  of 
the  treaty  of  Ghent.  Given  under  my  hand,  in  triplicate,  at  Fort 
George,  (Columbia  River,)  this  6th  of  October,  1818. 

"J.  B.  PuEvosT,  Agent  for  the  United  States." 

It  was  nevertheless  maintained  by  the  British  plenipotentiaries 
at  London,  in  1826,  during  the  negotiation  between  their  Gov- 
ernment and  that  of  the  United  States  relative  to  the  northwest 
territories — that  the  restitution  of  Astoria  could  not  have  been 
demanded  as  a  right  by  the  Americans,  agreeably  to  the  treaty  of 
Ghent,  because  the  place  was  not  a  national  possession,  nor  a 
military  post,  and  it  was  not  taken  during  war ;  but  that,  in  order 
to  prevent  any  imputation  on  the  good  faith  of  Great  Britain,  the 
most  liberal  extension  had  been  given  to  the  terms  of  the  treaty ; 
and,  in  181S,  the  purchase  which  the  British  company  had  made 
in  1813,  was  restored  to  the  United  States ;  but  that  particular 
care  was  taken,  on  the  occasion  of  this  restitution,  to  prevent  any 
misapprehension  as  to  the  extent  of  the  concession.  Whether  or 
not  Astoria  Avere  a  national  possession,  according  to  the  rules  of 
civilized  nations  in  general,  it  is  unnecessary  to  inquire,  as  there 
can  be  no  doubt  that  it  was  such,  agreeably  to  the  principles  al- 
ways supported  by  Great  Britain.  In  proof  of  this,  nothing  more 
is  necessary  than  to  repeat,  that  the  chief  cause  of  the  dispute 
between  that  Power  and  Spain,  in  1790,  was  the  occupation  by 
Spain  of  a  territory  on  the  northwest  coast,  which  was  supposed 
to  have  previously  become  the  property  of  British  subjects. 
Whether  the  establishment  of  the  Columbia  were  a  military  post, 
or  not,  was  of  no  consequence,  as  the  treaty  provided  for  the  res- 
toration of  "  all  territory,  places,  and  possessions,  whatever,  taken 
by  either  party  from  the  other  during  the  war;"  and  that  the  said 
establishment  was  so  taken  by  the  British  from  the  Americans, 
has  been  already  sufficiently  shown.  The  flag  of  the  United 
States  was  flying  over  the  fort  at  Astoria,  on  the  12th  of  Decem- 
ber, 1813,  when  the  British  ship  Raccoon  appeared  in  the  Colum- 
bia -,  and  it  was  hauled  down  by  the  commander  of  that  vessel, 
after  the  surrender  of  the  place  by  the  chief  agent,  McDougall. 
The  sale  of  the  effects  of  the  Pacific  Fur  Company  to  the  British 
traders,  at  a  moment  when  an  overpowering  force  was  daily  ex- 
pected, cannot  be,  in  justice,  regarded  in  any  other  light  than  as  a 
capitulation,  such  as  are  frequently  made  during  war,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  preserving  lives  or  property,  which  might  otherwise  be 
destroyed.  Circumstances  precisely  similar  might  have  occurred, 
if  Astoria  had  been  situated  in  Virginia  or  Maine ;  but  would  the 
British  have  been  thereby  justified  in  retaining  the  sovereignty 
of  the  place  ? 

In  proof  of  the  assertion  that  particular  care  had  been  taken  on 
the  occasion  of  this  restitution  "  to  prevent  any  misapprehension 
as  to  the  extent  of  the  concession  made  by  Great  Britain,"  the 
British  plenipotentiaries  cited — first,  a  despatch  firom  Lord  Castle- 


^thf 


167 


ived,  in  behalf 

isession  of  the 

i  first  article  of 

plicate,  at  Fort 

L8. 

itcd  States." 

lenipotentiaries 
een  their  Gov- 
the  northwest 
not  have  been 
to  the  treaty  of 
ssession,  nor  a 
It  that,  in  order 
eat  Britain,  the 
s  of  the  treaty ; 
pany  had  made 
that  particular 
,  to  prevent  any 
1.     Whether  or 
to  the  rules  of 
[iquire,  as  there 
le  principles  al- 
5,  nothing  more 
of  the  dispute 
occupation  by 
I  was  supposed 
ritish  subjects. 
di  military  post, 
ded  for  the  res- 
whatever,  taken 
[id  that  the  said 
the  Americans, 
of  the  United 
1 2th  of  Decem- 
i  in  the  Colum- 
of  that  vessel, 
nt,  McDougall. 
ly  to  the  British 
;e  was  daily  ex- 
light  than  as  a 
var,  for  the  pur- 
it  otherwise  be 
t  have  occurred, 
but  would  the 
the  sovereignty 

1  been  taken  on 
nisapprehension 
sat  Britain,"  the 
om  Lord  Castle- 


reagh  to  the  British  envoy  at  Washington,  dated  February  4, 181S, 
in  which  he  says :  "  You  will  observe,  that  whilst  this  Govern- 
ment is  not  disposed  to  contest  with  the  American  Government 
the  point  of  possession,  as  it  stood  in  the  Columbia  River,  at  the 
moment  of  the  rupture,  they  are  not  prepared  to  admit  the  valid- 
ity of  the  title  of  the  Government  of  the  United  States  to  this  set- 
tlement. In  signifying,  therefore,  to  Mr.  Adams  the  full  acqui- 
escence of  your  Government  in  the  re-occupation  of  the  limited 
position  which  the  United  States  held  in  that  river  at  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  war,  you  will,  at  the  same  time,  assert  in  suitable 
terms  the  claim  of  Great  Britain  to  that  territory,  upon  which  the 
American  settlement  must  be  considered  an  encroachment." 

The  plenipotentiaries  add,  that "  this  instruction  was  executed 
verbally  by  the  person  to  whom  it  was  addressed ;"  and  they  next 
cite  the  despatch  from  Earl  Bathurst  to  the  partners  or  agents  of 
the  Northwest  Company,  mentioned  in  the  act  of  delivery,  of 
which  the  following  copy  is  taken  from  their  statement : 

"  Downing  street,  January  27, 1818. 

"  Intelligence  having  been  received  that  the  United  States 
sloop  of  war  Ontario  has  been  sent  by  the  American  Government 
to  establish  a  settlement  on  the  Columbia  River,  which  was  held 
by  that  State  on  the  breaking  out  of  the  last  war,  I  am  to  acquaint 
you  that  it  is  the  Prince  Regent's  pleasure,  (without,  however, 
admitting  the  right  of  that  Government  to  the  possession  in  ques- 
tion,) that,  in  pursuance  of  the  first  article  of  the  treaty  of  Ghent, 
due  facility  should  be  given  to  the  re-occupation  of  the  said  set- 
tlement by  the  officers  of  the  United  States ;  and  I  am  to  desire 
that  you  would  contribute,  as  much  as  lies  in  your  power,  to  the 
execution  of  his  Royal  Highness's  commands.     I  have,  &c.  &.c. 

'*  Bathurst." 

"  The  above  documents,"  conclude  the  plenipotentiaries,  with 
reference  to  the  two  despatches  and  the  act  of  delivery,  which 
are  simply  inserted  as  above  in  their  statement,  without  remark, 
"  put  the  case  of  the  restoration  of  Fort  Astoria  in  too  clear  a 
light  to  require  farther  observation;"  and  certainly  nothing  more 
appears  to  be  wanting,  in  order  *'  to  prevent  any  misapprehension 
as  to  the  extent  of  the  concession  made  by  Great  Britain."  The 
only  communication  received  by  the  American  agent  on  the  oc- 
casion of  the  surrender  of  the  post,  is  explicit :  "  VFe,  the  tinder- 
signed,  do,  in  conformity  to  the  first  article  of  the  treaty  of  Ghent, 
restore  to  the  Government  of  the  United  States  the  settlement  of 
Fort  George,  on  the  Columbia."  The  restoration  is  made  posi- 
tively and  unconditionally,  by  persons  duly  commissioned,  in 
obedience  to  the  command  of  the  head  of  the  British  nation ;  and 
the  meaning  of  this  public  act  cannot  be  affected  by  any  private 
communications  which  the  British  ministers  may  have  addressed 
to  their  own  agents.  With  those  private  despatches  the  United 
States  have  no  concern ;  and  the  attempt  to  represent  them  as 
reservations  of  right  on  the  part  of  Great  Britain  to  the  very  ter- 
ritory which  she  was  then  restoring  to  the  United  States  in  pur- 
suance of  a  treaty,  is  alike  at  variance  with  the  common  sense 


1818. 


ft, 


I 


.t 


168 


I! 


1818.  and  the  common  morals  of  the  day.  No  arguments  are  required 
to  show  that,  if  such  reservations  were  allowable,  all  engagements 
would  be  nugatory,  and  all  faith  at  an  end.  With  regard  to  the 
protest  said  to  have  been  conveyed  verhally  by  the  British  envoy 
at  Washington  to  the  American  Secretary  of  State,  Mr.  Gallatin 
justly  observed,  in  his  reply,  that  "  it  is  not  declared  how  the 
communication  was  received,  nor  whetlier  the  Government  of  the 
United  States  consented  to  accept  the  restitution  with  the  reser- 
vation." It  is,  moreover,  by  no  means  consonant  with  the  cus- 
toms of  civilized  nations,  at  present,  to  treat  verbally  on  points  so 
important  as  those  of  territorial  sovereignty ;  or  to  consider  as  suf- 
ficient, protests  and  exceptions  made  in  that  manner,  and  adduced 
long  afterwards,  without  acknowledgment  or  evidence  from  the 
party  to  which  they  are  said  to  have  been  addressed. 

Immediately  after  the  completion  of  this  transfer,  Mr.  Keith, 
the  agent  of  the  factory,  presented  a  letter  to  Mr.  Prevost,  con- 
taining inquiries — whether  the  Government  of  the  United  States 
would  insist  upon  the  relmquishment  of  Fort  George  to  any 
American  citizens,  before  the  final  decision  of  the  question  as  to 
the  sovereignty  of  the  territory ;  and  whether,  in  the  event  of 
such  decision  being  in  favor  of  the  United  States,  their  Govern- 
ment would  indemnify  the  company  for  any  extension  of  busi- 
ness, or  ameliorations,  which  might  in  the  interim  be  made.  Mr. 
Prevost,  having  no  instructions  on  those  points,  could  only  reply 
as  he  did,  to  the  eflect  that  his  Government  would  doubtless,  in 
any  event,  satisfy  such  claims  on  the  part  of  the  Northwest  Com- 
pany as  should  be  justified  by  the  usages  of  nations.* 

While  these  measures  for  the  restitution  of  Astoria  were  in 
progresSjt  a  negotiation  was  carried  on  at  London  between  the 
British  and  American  Governments,  one  of  the  objects  of  which 
was  to  settle  definitively  the  boundaries  west  of  the  Lake  of  the 
Woods,  left  undetermined  by  the  treaty  of  Ghent.  Messrs.  Rush 
and  Gallatin,  the  plenipotentiaries  of  the  United  States,  proposed 
that  the  dividing-line  should  be  drawn  from  the  northwestern 
extremity  of  that  lake  (north  or  south,  as  the  case  might  be)  to 
the  49th  parallel  of  latitude,  and  from  the  point  of  intersection 
westward  to  the  Pacific ;  it  being  expressed,  that  the  agreement 
was  intended  only  for  the  parties  themselves,  without  reference 
or  prejudice  to  the  claims  of  any  other  Power.  To  this  Messrs. 
Goulburn  and  Robinson,  the  British  commissioners,  would  con- 
sent only  in  part;  and  they  endeavored  to  annex  the  condition, 
that  British  subjects  should  have  access  to  the  Mississippi,  (the 

»  Agreeably  to  the  plan  and  description  of  Port  George,  sent  by  Mr.  Prevost  to 
the  Department  of  State,  but  not  published  with  his  letter,  the  factory  consisted  (in 
1818^  of  a  stockade,  enclosing  a  parallelogram  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  by  two 
hujadred  and  fifty  feet,  extending,  in  its  greatest  length,  from  northwest  to  southeast. 
Withm  this  enclosure  were  all'ihe  bnildings  attached  to  the  establishment,  such  as 
dwelling-houses,  stores,  mechanics'  shops,  &c.  On  the  fort  were  mounted  two  18- 
pounders,  four  4-pounders,  two  6-pound  cohorns,  and  seven  swivels.  The  number 
of  persons  belonging  to  the  factory,  besides  a  few  women  and  children,  was  sixty- 
five;  of  whom  twenty-three  were  whiles,  twenty-six  Sandwich  Islanders,  and  the 
icmainder  persons  of  mixed  blood  from  Canada. 

t  President  Monroe's  message  of  December  29, 1818,  and  accompanying  docu- 
nentSi 


169 


f  .V 


s  are  required 
engagements 
regard  to  the 
British  envoy 
I,  Mr.  Gallatin 
ared  how  the 
irnment  of  the 
i^ith  the  reser- 
with  the  cus- 
y  on  points  so 
)nsider  as  suf- 
,  and  adduced 
ence  from  the 
d. 

isr,  Mr.  Keith, 

Prevost,  con- 

United  States 

jJeorge  to  any 

question  as  to 

.  the  event  of 

their  Govern- 

nsion  of  busi- 

be  made.    Mr. 

)uld  only  reply 

I  doubtless,  in 

arthwest  Com- 

is.* 

storia  were  in 
ti  between  the 
)jects  of  which 
he  Lake  of  the 
Messrs.  Rush 
itates,  proposed 
3  northwestern 
e  might  be)  to 
of  intersection 
the  agreement 
thout  reference 
ro  this  Messrs. 
jrs,  would  con- 
L  the  condition, 
lississippi,  (the 

t  by  Mr.  Prevoat  to 
actory  consisted  (in 
ind  fifty  feet  by  two 
thwest  to  southeast, 
ablishment,  such  zs 
re  mounted  two  18- 
vels.  The  number 
children,  was  sixty- 
Islanders,  and  the 

ccompaoylDg  docu- 


sources  of  which  lie  south  of  the  said  parallel,)  and  the  liberty  of  1818. 
navigating  that  river  to  the  sea.  The  Americans  having,  how- 
ever, positively  refused  to  subscribe  to  such  a  condition,  it  was 
not  pressed  farther ;  and  an  article  was  agreed  on,  by  which  the 
49th  parallel  was  fixed  as  the  dividing-line,  from  the  Lake  of  the 
Woods,  or  the  meridian  of  its  northwest  extremity,  to  the  Rocky 
Mountains. 

The  claims  of  the  respective  nations  to  territories  bordering  on 
the  Pacific  were  then  discussed  separately.  Messrs.  Rush  and 
Gallatin  cited,  in  support  of  those  of  the  United  States,  the  facts 
of  the  discovery  of  the  Columbia,  of  its  first  exploration  from  its 
source  to  the  ocean,  and  of  the  fiirmation  of  the  first  establish- 
ments in  the  country  through  which  it  flows,  by  American  citi- 
zens ;  they  "  did  not  assert  that  the  United  States  had  a  perfect 
right  to  this  country,"  but  they  "  insisted  that  their  claim  was  at 
least  good  against  Great  Britain."  Messrs.  Goulburn  and  Rob- 
inson, on  the  other  hand,  affirmed  that  the  discoveries  of  British 
navigators,  especially  those  of  Cook,  and  purchases  made  from 
the  natives  south  of  the  Columbia,  (when  and  by  whom  they 
did  not  state,)  had  given  to  Great  Britain  claims  in  that  part  of 
America  superior  to  any  which  could  be  deduced  from  the  al- 
leged discoveries  and  establishments  of  citizens  of  the  United 
States ;  "they  made  no  formal  proposition  for  a  boundary,  but  in- 
timated that  the  Columbia  was  the  most  convenient  that  could 
be  adopted;  and  they  would  agree  to  none  which  did  not  give 
them  the  harbor  at  the  mouth  of  that  river,  in  common  with  the 
United  States."  As  the  pretensions  of  the  parties  were  more  fully 
developed,  it  became  more  probable  that  they  would  not  agree 
upon  any  arrangement  for  the  partition  of  the  country  west  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains ;  and  it  was  at  length  determined — that  all  ter-  Oct. 
ritories  claimed  by  the  United  States  or  by  Great  Britain,  between 
the  Rocky  Mountains  and  the  Pacific,  should,  with  their  harbors, 
bays,  and  rivers,  be  free  and  open  for  ten  years  to  the  vessels, 
subjects,  or  citizens  of  both  nations  ;  it  beitig,  at  the  same  time, 
expressly  understood  that  tlie  said  agreement  was  not  to  be  con- 
strued to  affect  or  prejudice  the  claims  of  either  party,  or  of  any 
other  Power,  to  any  portion  of  those  territories.* 

This  compromise  was,  perhaps,  the  wisest  which  could  have 
been  made  at  the  time,  considering  that  neither  of  the  parties  had, 
or  pretended  to  have,  a  perfect  title  to  any  portion  of  the  territories 
in  question,  and  there  was  then  no  probability  that  an  arrange- 
ment would  be  effected  respecting  those  territories  between  either, 
and  the  third  or  principal  claimant,  Spain.  The  convention 
could  not  have  been  considered  unfovorable  to  the  United  States, 
as  the  British  Government  had  previously  given  orders  for  the 
restoration  of  the  important  post  at  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia, 
which  had  been  taken  from  their  citizens  during  the  war.  There 
was  every  reason  to  suppose  that  this  post  would  be  immediately 

♦  Sec  the  second  nnd  third  articles  of  the  convention  of  1818  lielween  the  United 
Slates  and  Great  Britain,  in  the  Laws  and  in  the  Diplomatic  Code  of  the  United 
States;  and  in  the  Appendix  [F]  to  this  memoir. 


; 


k 


ff 


-  :•  I 


it 


170 


I9ta  re>«occupiod  by  those  to  whom  it  belonged,  and  that  the  power 
and  population  of  the  Americans  in  the  northwest  side  of  the 
continent  would  thenceforth  be  constantly  increasing. 

With  regard  to  the  assertion  by  the  British  commissioners  of 
claims  of  Great  Britain,  founded  on  discoveries  and  purchases  of 
her  subjects  on  the  northwest  coasts,  it  is  scarcely  necessary  to 
repeat,  that  neither  Cook  nor  any  other  British  navigator  discov- 
ered any  part  of  those  coasts  south  of  the  49th  degree  of  latitude, 
the  Spaniards  having  explored  them  all  before  they  were  seen  by 
the  people  of  any  other  civilized  nation.  Nor  does  history  fur- 
nish accounts  of  any  acquisition  of  territory  from  the  natives  in 
that  quarter  by  British  subjects,  except  in  the  case  of  Drake, 
whose  acceptance  of  the  "  crown,  sceptre,  and  dignity"  of  the 
country  about  Port  San  Francisco,  in  1570,  the  conmiissioners 
could  not  have  intended  to  urge  seriously,  in  1818,  as  the  basis  of 
a  claim  to  the  possession  of  the  region  drained  by  the  Columbia. 

The  Government  of  the  United  States  was,  in  the  same  year, 
engaged  in  a  negotiation  with  that  of  Spain,  in  which  the  ques- 
tion of  territorial  limits  on  the  northwest  side  of  America  was  also 
discussed.  Upon  this  subject  the  Spanish  minister,  Don  Luis 
Jan.  5.  de  Onis,  began  by  declaring  that  "the  right  and  dominion  of  the 
Crown  of  Spain  to  the  northwest  coast  of  America,  as  high  as 
the  Californias,  is  certain  and  indisputable;  the  Spaniards  having 
explored  it  as  far  as  the  47th  degree,  in  the  expedition  under  Juau 
de  Fuca,  in  1592,  and  in  that  under  Admiral  Fonte,  to  the  55th 
degree,  in  1640.  The  dominion  of  Spain  in  these  vast  regions 
being  thus  established,  and  her  rights  of  discovery,  conquest, 
and  possession  being  never  disputed,  she  could  scarcely  possess 
a  property  founded  on  more  respectable  principles,  whether  of  the 
law  of  nations,  of  public  law,  or  of  any  others  which  serve  as  a 
basis  to  such  ac(iuisilions  as  compose  all  the  independent  king- 
doms and  states  of  the  earth."*  On  these  assertions,  (each  of 
which  was  calculated  to  excite  a  smile,)  the  American  Secretary 
of  State,  Mr.  J.  Q.  Adams,  who  conducted  the  negotiation  on  the 
part  of  his  Govermnent,  did  not  think  proper  to  otter  any  remarks; 
and  the  origin,  extent,  and  value  of  the  claims  of  Spain  to  teiri- 
tories  in  Northwest  America,  remained  unquestioned  during  the 
discussion. 

This  negotiation  was  soon  broken  off;  it  was,  however,  re- 
newed in  October,  1818,  after  the  conclusion  of  the  convention 
between  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain;  and  it  was  termi- 
1H19.  nated  on  the  22d  of  February,  1819,  by  the  signature  of  a  treaty 
Feb.  23.  generally  called  the  Florida  Treaty, ■^  in  which  the  southern  and 
southwestern  limits  of  the  United  States  were  definitively  fixed. 
The  Spaniards  ceded  Florida  to  the  Americans,  who,  at  the  same 
time,  relinquished  all  pretensions  to  the  country  west  of  the  river 
Sabine ;  and  it  was  agreed  that  a  line  drawn  from  the  source  of 


•  See  message  anil  docuraenis  sent  by  President  Monroe  to  ConKress  February 
G2,  1819. 

t  See  the  third  article  of  the  Florida  Treaty,  in  the  Laws  and  the  Diplomatic  Code 
C'f  the  United  States,  and  in  the  Appendix  [F]  to  this  memoir. 


171 


lat  the  power 
side  of  the 

missioners  of 
purchases  of 
r  necessary  to 
igator  discov- 
ee  of  latitude, 
were  seen  by 
s  history  fur- 
the  natives  in 
xse  of  Drake, 
ignity"  of  the 
onimissioners 
as  the  basis  of 
he  Columbia, 
le  same  year, 
lich  the  ques- 
lerica  was  also 
ter,  Don  Luis 
)minion  of  the 
:a,  as  high  as 
miards  having 
on  under  Juau 
te,  to  the  55th 
e  vast  regions 
ery,  conquest, 
;arcely  possess 
whether  of  the 
lich  serve  as  a 
pendent  king- 
tions,  (each  of 
•iean  Secretary 
otiation  on  the 
r  any  remarks; 
Spain  to  tei ri- 
led during  the 

,  however,  re- 
he  convention 
i  it  was  termi- 
ure  of  a  treaty 
3  southern  and 
initively  fixed. 
10,  at  the  same 
'est  of  the  river 
1  the  source  of 


/ongresb,  February 
le  Diplomatic  Code 


the  river  Arkansas,  north  or  south,  as  the  case  might  be,  to  the 
42d  parallel  of  latitude,  an  1  thence  along  that  parallel  westward 
to  the  Pacific,  should  form  the  northern  boundary  of  the  Spanish 
possessions,  and  the  southern  boundary  of  those  of  the  United 
States  on  the  western  side  of  the  continent — "  his  Catholic  Ma- 
jesty ceding  to  the  United  States  all  his  rights,  claims,  and  pre- 
tensions to  any  territories  north  of  the  said  line."  The  American 
plenipotentiary  proposed  the  41st  parallel  as  the  boundary ;  but 
the  Spaniards  refused  to  admit  it,  fearing,  no  doubt,  that  a  por- 
tion of  the  Rio  del  Norte,  or  the  Colorado,  or  of  some  other  river 
flowing  through  their  dominions,  might  thus  be  included  within 
the  limits  of  the  United  States,  whose  citizens  would  not  fail  in 
such  case  to  claim  the  right  of  navigating  the  stream  to  the  sea. 
The  most  natural  and  convenient  boundary  would  have  been  a 
line  drawn  along  the  summits  of  the  Snowy  Mountains,  which 
extend  in  a  continuous  chain  from  a  point  in  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains, near  the  43d  degree  of  latitude,  westward  to  the  Pacific, 
where  they  terminate  at  Cape  Mendocino,  near  the  40th  degree. 

Before  proceeding  farther,  it  will  be  proper  to  inquire  into  the 
nature  and  value  of  the  claims  thus  ceded  by  Spain  to  the  United 
States ;  for  which  purpose  it  will  be  re(]uisite  to  look  back  to  the 
convention  of  1790  between  the  former  Power  and  Great  Britam. 

On  analysing  the  convention  of  1790,  it  Avill  be  found  that — 

The  first  and  second  articles  consist  of  engagements  for  the 
immediate  performance  of  certain  sjiecified  acts,  by  one  or  both 
of  the  parties,  as  the  case  might  require;  which  acts  were  duly 
performed. 

The  t/nrd  article  is  a  declaration  of  rights,  admitted  to  be  equal- 
ly possessed  by  both  parties,  to  navigate  and  fish  in  the  Pacific 
and  Southern  Oceans,  and  to  trade  with  the  natives,  or  to  make 
settlements  on  the  coasts  of  those  seas  in  places  not  previously 
occupied. 

The  fourt/i,  fifth,  and  si.rfh  articles  are  devoted  to  the  exjiosition 
of  certain  limitations  and  restrictions  with  regard  to  the  exercise 
of  those  rights,  which  the  parties  mutually  consent  to  observe,  for 
the  sake  of  peace  and  good  understanding  between  themselves, 
without  reference  to  any  other  nation. 

The  two  remaining  articles  contain  engagements  respecting 
the  ratification  of  the  agreement,  and  the  mode  of  proceeding  to 
be  observed  by  each  party  in  case  of  infraction  by  the  officers  of 
the  other. 

Nothing  is  expressed  with  regard  to  the  period  during  which 
the  stipulations  are  to  remain  in  force.  Whether  either  of  the 
parties  could  have  withdrawn  from  them  during  peace,  without 
a  breach  of  good  faith,  it  is  needless  here  to  inquire  ;  but  there 
can  be  no  doubt  that  the  restrictions  and  limitations  would  cease 
on  the  breaking  out  of  war  between  the  two  countries,  and  that 
they  could  not  be  considered  as  again  in  force  until  after  a  formal 
renewal  of  the  engagement.  Spain  declared  war  against  Great 
Britain  in  October,  1796;  and,  since  that  period,  the  only  ar- 
rangement which  has  been  made  between  those  Powers  for  the 
renewal  of  former  agreements  is  contained  in  the  frst  of  the  two 


1819. 


172 


1819.  additional  articles  to  ihe  treaty  of  Madrid,  of  July  5,1814.  That 
article  is  as  follows :  "  It  is  agreed,  that  during  the  negotiation  of 
a  new  treaty  of  commerce,  Great  Britain  shall  be  admitted  to 
trade  with  Spain,  upon  the  same  conditions  as  those  which  ex- 
isted previously  to  1796 ;  all  the  treaties  of  commerce  which  at 
that  period  subsisted  between  the  two  nations  being  hereby  rati- 
fied and  confirmed."  That  this  article  related  only  to  treaties  of 
commerce^  and  between  Great  Britain  and  Spain  only^  without  re- 
ference to  the  possessions  of  either  party  out  of  Europe,  is  clear; 
for,  in  the  first  place,  no  commerce  had  ever  been  allowed  by 
treaty,  between  either  party  or  its  colonies  and  the  colonies  of  the 
other;  and,  secondly,  another  article  in  the  same  treaty  of  Madrid 
provides,  that  "  in  the  event  of  the  commerce  of  the  Spanish 
American  colonies  being  opened  to  foreign  nations,  his  Catholic 
Majesty  promises  that  Great  Britain  shall  be  admitted  to  trade 
with  those  possessions  as  the  most  favored  nations."  Moreover, 
that  the  convention  of  1790  should  be  considered  as  a  commer- 
cial treaty  between  Spain  and  Great  Britain,  is  impossible,  seeing 
that  one  of  its  most  clearly  expressed  objects  was  to  prevent  Brit- 
ish subjects  from  carrying  on  any  conmierce  with  the  Spanish 
American  dominions. 

These  considerations  appear  to  be  sufficient  to  show  that  the 
convention  of  1790  expired  in  1796,  and  that  it  had  not  been  re- 
newed when  Spain  ceded  to  the  United  States  all  her  rights  to 
territories  on  the  western  side  of  America  north  of  the  42d  parallel. 
The  restrictions  and  limitations  which  the  parties  to  that  con- 
vention imposed  upon  themselves  in  1790,  tlierefore,  disappeared 
in  1796;  and  the  rights  of  each  were  afterwards  to  be  regulated 
only  according  to  the  general  law  of  nations.  Before  the  conven- 
tion was  concluded,  the  rights  of  Spain  to  the  territory  drained 
by  the  Columbia  were  undoubtedly  stronger,  agreeably  to  the 
law  of  nations,  than  those  of  any  other  Power.  While  the  con- 
vention subsisted,  neither  party  could  acquire  absolute  sover- 
eignty over  any  spot  in  that  territory,  even  by  occupation,  and 
no  attempt  at  occupation  was  made  by  Great  Britain ;  so  that,  on 
the  expiration  of  the  convention,  the  rights  of  Spain  became  again 
stronger  tlian  those  of  any  other  Power.  Between  1796  and 
1819,  the  people  of  the  United  States  had  explored  the  region  of 
the  Columbia,  and  had  established  themselves  on  that  river,  be- 
fore any  attempt  either  to  explore  or  to  occupy  the  country  had 
been  made  by  British  subjects.  The  American  scttlomcuts  taken 
by  the  British  during  war  had  been  restored,  agreeably  to  the 
treaty  of  peace ;  and  on  the  22d  of  February,  1819,  when  all  the 
titles  of  Spain  were  transferred  to  the  United  States,  Great  Britain 
possessed  no  other  just  claims  with  regard  to  the  country  drained 
by  the  Columbia,  than  those  derived  from  the  convention  of  Oc- 
tober previous ;  while  the  rights  of  the  Americans  were  thence- 
forth founded  on  the  bases  of  priority  of  discovery  and  priority  of 
occupation. 

The  British  Government  has,  however,  positively  refused  to 
admit  that  the  convention  of  1790  has  been  abrogated,  or  that 
Spain  could  convey  to  the  United  States  any  other  rights  than 


173 


'  A  I 


;,  1814.  That 
negotiation  of 
a  admitted  to 
ose  which  ex- 
lerce  which  at 
ig  hereby  rati- 
fy to  treaties  of 
'hj,  without  re- 
irope,  is  clear; 
3n  allowed  by 
colonies  of  the 
eaty  of  Madrid 
>f  the  Spanish 
s,  his  Catholic 
nitted  to  trade 
5."  Moreover, 
as  a  commer- 
x)ssible,  seeing 

0  prevent  Brit- 
h  the  Spanish 

show  that  the 
ad  not  been  ro- 
ll her  rights  to 
he  42d  parallel. 
;s  to  that  con- 
re,  disappeared 
to  be  regulated 
)re  the  conven- 
irritory  drained 
;reeably  to  the 
While  the  con- 
ibsolute  sover- 
ccupation,  and 
lin ;  so  that,  on 
n  became  again 
i^een  179G  and 
d  the  region  of 

1  that  river,  be- 
he  country  had 
ttlemcuts  taken 
greeably  to  the 
9,  when  all  the 
s,  Great  Britain 
lountry  drained 
ivention  of  Oc- 
is  were  thence- 

■  and  priority  of 

vely  refused  to 
rogated,  or  that 
her  rights  than 


those  which  were  secured  to  her  by  that  convention.  In  the  1819. 
statement  presented  by  the  British  plenipotentiaries  to  the  Amer- 
ican minister,  during  the  negotiations  at  London  in  182tj,  it  is 
declared — that  all  arguments  and  pretensions  on  the  part  of  Great 
Britain  or  of  Spain,  whether  resting  on  priority  of  discovery,  or 
upon  any  other  ground,  were  definitively  set  at  rest  by  the  con- 
vention of  1790,  which  opened  all  parts  of  the  northwest  coast  of 
America  to  them  both,  for  all  purposes  of  commerce  and  settle- 
ment, and  all  the  waters  to  be  freely  navigated  by  the  vessels 
and  subjects  of  both — that  the  rights  of  Spain  having  been  con- 
veyed to  the  United  States  by  the  Florida  treaty,  in  1819,  the 
United  States  necessarily  succeeded  to  the  limitations  by  which 
those  rights  were  defined,  and  to  the  obligations  under  which 
tliey  were  to  be  exercised — and  that  Great  Britain  could  not  be 
expected  to  release  those  countries  from  the  obligations  and  lim- 
itations contracted  towards  herself,  merely  because  the  rights  of 
the  party  originally  bound  had  been  transferred  to  a  third  Power. 
In  order  to  sustain  these  propositions,  it  was  assumed,  and  at- 
tempts were  made,  as  already  stated,  to  prove — that  the  United 
States  possessed  no  other  claims  to  the  countries  in  question 
tlian  those  derived  from  Spain  in  1819 — that  the  Americans  were 
not  the  first  to  enter  the  Columbia  River,*  nor  to  explore  the  re- 
gion through  which  it  flows,t  nor  to  make  settlements  on  its 
banks — and  that  the  restitution  of  Astoria  was  accompanied  by 
an  express  reservation  of  the  rights  of  Great  Britain  to  the  sover- 
eignty of  the  surrounding  country.^ 

The  Florida  treaty  was  not  ratified  until  ncaily  two  years  after 
its  signatiu'e  by  the  plenipotentiaries  •,  and  before  another  year 
had  elapsed,  the  authority  of  Spain  had  ceased  in  every  part  of 
America  contiguous  to  the  United  States.  In  1828,  a  treaty  of 
limits  was  concluded  between  the  United  States  and  Mexico,  by 
which  the  line  of  boundary  agreed  on  with  Spain,  in  1819,  was 
admitted  as  separating  the  territories  of  the  two  republics,  Mex- 
ico taking  the  place  of  Spain.  The  provisions  for  running  and 
marking  the  said  line  have,  however,  not  as  yet  been  complied 
with  by  the  Mexican  Government. 

In  December,  1820,  after  the  ratification  of  the  Florida  treaty, 
a  resolution  was  passed  by  the  House  of  Representatives  in  the 
Congress  of  the  United  States,  on  the  motion  of  Mr.  Floyd,  of 
Virginia,  "  that  an  inquiry  should  be  made  as  to  the  situation  of 
the  settlements  on  the  Pacific  Ocean,  and  as  to  the  expediency 
of  occupying  the  Columbia  River."  The  committee  to  which 
this  resolution  was  referred,  presented  a  long  Report,  drawn  up  by  ja'n.Jo, 
Mr.  Floyd,  containing  a  sketch  of  the  history  of  colonization  in 
America,  an  account  of  the  fur  trade  in  the  northern  and  north- 
western sections  of  the  continent,  and  a  description  of  the  country 
claimed  by  the  United  States  in  those  directions;  from  all  wliich 
are  drawn  the  conclusions — that  the  whole  territory  of  America 
bordering  upon  the  Pacific  from  the  41st  degree  of  latitude  to  the 


♦  See  page  128.  t  See  page  153,  t  See  page  16C. 


1820. 
Dec.  19. 


1821. 


I': . 


i 


•I' 


'M 


174 


18^1.  53d,  if  not  to  the  60th,  belonged  of  right  to  the  United  States,  in 
virtue  of  the  purchase  of  Louisiana  from  France  in  1803,  of  the 
late  acquisition  of  the  Spanish  titles,  and  of  the  discoveries  and 
settlements  of  American  citizens — that  the  trade  of  those  coun- 
tries in  furs  and  other  articles,  and  the  fisheries  on  their  coasts, 
might  be  rendered  highly  productive — and  that  these  advantages 
might  be  secured  to  citizens  of.the  United  States  exclusively,  by 
establishing  "  small  trading-guards"  on  the  most  northeastern 
point  of  the  Missouri,  and  at  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia,  and 
favoring  emigration  to  the  country  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
not  only  from  the  United  States,  but  also  from  China.  The  com- 
mittee thereupon  reported  "  a  bill  for  the  occupation  of  the  Col- 
umbia, and  the  regulation  of  the  trade  with  the  Indians  in  the 
territories  of  the  United  States." 

Without  making  any  remarks  upon  the  contents  of  this  Report, 
it  may  be  observed  with  regard  to  the  bill,  that  its  terms  are  di- 
rectly at  variance  with  the  provisions  of  the  third  article  of  the 
convention  of  October,  1818,  between  the  United  States  and  Great 
Britain ;  inasmuch  as  the  Columbia  could  not  possibly  be  free 
and  open  to  the  vessels,  citizens,  and  s^tbjects  of  both  those  nations, 
if  it  were  occupied  by  either.  The  bill  was  suffered  to  lie  on  the 
table  of  the  House  of  Representatives  during  the  remainder  of  the 
session.  The  subject  was  again  brought  before  Congress  in  the 
ensuing  year,  and  an  estimate  was  obtained  from  the  Navy  Com- 
missioners of  the  expense  of  transporting  cannon,  ammunition, 
and  stores  to  the  Columbia ;  but  no  further  action  was  taken  on 
the  matter,  either  in  that  or  the  next  session  of  the  Legislature  of 
the  Union. 

In  tlie  mean  time,  important  measures  with  respect  to  the 
northwest  territories  of  America  had  been  adopted  and  enforced 
by  the  British  and  the  Russian  Governments. 

The  enmity  subsisting  between  the  Hudson's  Bay  and  the 
Northwest  Companies  was  for  many  years  displayed  only  in 
words,  or  in  the  commission  of  trifling  injuries  by  each  party 
against  the  other.  At  length,  however,  in  1814,  a  regular  war 
broke  out,  and  was  for  some  time  oi>enly  carried  on  between 
them.  The  scene  of  the  hostilities  was  the  territory  on  the  Red 
River,  contiguous  to  the  frontiers  of  the  United  States,  in  which 
a  colony  of  Scotch  highlanders  was  established  in  1812,  by  Lord 
Selkirk,  in  virtue  of  a  grant  of  the  country  from  the  Hudson's 
Bay  Company.  The  validity  of  that  grant  was  denied  by  the 
Northwest  Company,  to  which  the  colony  had  proved  injurious, 
as  the  supplies  of  provisions  for  the  use  of  the  northwest  posts 
had  been  before  obtained  almost  wholly  from  the  Red  River 
lands.  The  consequences  were  disputes  and  various  acts  of  vi- 
olence, until,  finally,  in  1814,  the  Scotchmen  were  driven  away, 
and  their  houses  were  destroyed  by  their  opponents.  The  col- 
ony was  re-established  in  the  following  year;  after  which,  the 
hostilities  were  renewed,  posts  were  taken  and  burnt  by  each 
party,  and  on  the  19th  of  June,  1816,  a  battle  was  fought,  in 
which  the  Scotchmen  were  routed ;  their  governor,  Mr.  Semple, 
and  seventeen  of  his  followers,  being  killed. 


mg  to 


175 


ted  States,  in 

1803,  of  the 

scoveries  and 

those  coun- 

their  coasts, 

se  advantages 

:clusivcly,  by 

northeastern 

'ohimbia,  and 

:y  Mountains, 

a.    The  com- 

m  of  the  Col- 

idians  in  the 

jf  this  Report, 

terms  are  di- 

artiole  of  the 

atcs  and  Great 

issibly  be  free 

those  nations, 

d  to  lie  on  the 

[iiainder  of  the 

nngress  in  the 

le  Navy  Com- 

am  munition, 

was  taken  on 

Legislature  of 

respect  to  the 
1  and  enforced 

1  Bay  and  the 
)layed  only  in 
by  each  party 
,  a  regular  war 
id  on  between 
:>ry  on  the  Red 
tates,  in  which 
1812,  by  Lord 
the  Hudson's 
denied  by  the 
oved  injurious, 
lorthwest  posts 
the  Red  River 
ious  acts  of  vi- 
■e  driven  away, 
nts.  The  col- 
ifter  which,  the 
burnt  by  each 
was  fought,  in 
or,  Mr.  Sernple, 


These  affairs  were  brought  before  the  British  Parliament  in  1821. 
June,  1819;  and  two  yea^s  afterwards,  a  compromise  was  effected 
between  the  rival  companies,  through  the  intervention  of  the 
Colonial  Department,  by  which  they  were  united  into  one  body, 
under  the  name  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company;  an  Act  being  at 
the  same  time,  and  in  connexion  with  the  arrangement,  passed  by 
Parliament,  on  the  authority  of  which  the  trade  of  all  the  Indian 
territories  in  northern  America  owned  or  claimed  by  Great  Britain 
was  granted  exclusively  to  that  company  for  twenty-one  years. 

By  this  act,  *'  for  regulating  the  fur  trade,  and  establishing  a  July  2. 
criminal  and  civil  jurisdiction  in  certain  parts  of  North  America," 
the  King  was  authorized  to  make  grants,  or  give  '*  licenses  to  any 
body  corporate,  company,  or  person,  for  the  exclusive  privilege  of 
trading  with  the  Indians  ni  all  parts  of  North  America,  not  being 
parts  of  the  territories  heretofore  granted  to  the  Hudson's  Bay 
Company,  or  of  any  of  his  Majesty's  provinces,  or  of  territories 
belonging  to  the  United  States ;"  it  being,  however,  provided — that 
no  such  grant  or  license  was  to  be  given  for  a  longer  period  than 
twenty-one  years — that  no  grant  or  license  of  exclusive  trade  in 
the  part  of  America  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  which  was, 
by  the  convention  of  1818  with  the  United  States,  to  remain  free 
and  open  to  the  citizens  or  subjects  of  both  nations,  should  be 
used  to  the  prejudice  or  exclusion  of  any  citizens  of  the  United 
States  engaged  in  such  trade — and  that  no  British  subject  should 
trade  in  the  said  territories  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  without 
such  license  or  grant.  Courts  of  judicature  established  in  Upper 
Canada  were  empowered  to  take  cognizance  of  all  causes  within 
the  above  described  parts  of  America,  as  also  within  those  belong- 
ing to  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company;  and  justices  of  the  peace,  or 
persons  specially  commissioned  for  tlie  purpose,  were  to  deter- 
mine causes,  and  to  execute  and  enforce  the  orders  and  judg- 
ments of  the  aforesaid  courts,  in  different  parts  of  those  regions; 
tliey  being  also  authorized  to  commit  to  custody,  and  to  convey 
to  Upper  Canada  for  trial,  any  person  refusing  to  obey  such  or- 
ders and  judgments.  The  justices  of  the  peace  might  likewise 
be  empowered  to  liold  courts  in  the  Indian  countries,  for  trial  of 
minor  offences  and  of  civil  causes  in  which  the  amount  in  issue 
should  not  exceed  two  hundred  pounds. 

Immediately  after  the  passage  of  this  act,  the  coalition  of  the  Augu^i 
two  companies  took  place;  and  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  re- 
ceived grants  for  exclusive  trade  in  all  the  territories  north  of 
Canada,  and  of  the  United  States,  not  already  belonging  to  it,  as 
also  in  those  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  under  the  conditions 
expressed  in  the  act.  Persons  in  the  service  of  the  company 
were  likewise  commissioned  as  justices  of  the  peace,  and  the  ju- 
risdiction of  the  courts  of  Upper  Canada  was  rendered  effective 
as  far  as  the  shores  of  the  Pacific ;  no  exception  in  that  respect 
being  made  by  the  terms  of  the  act,  with  regard  to  any  of  the  ter- 
ritories in  which  licenses  for  trade  could  be  granted. 

The  Russians  were  at  the  same  period  endeavoring  to  extend 
their  dominion  over  the  coasts  of  the  north  Pacific,  by  means 
more  arbitrary,  though  less  effective,  as  the  result  proved. 


J 

el 

! 
( 
I 


S 


176 


i;^ 


lfi21.  On  the  8th  of  July,  1819,  thn  charter  of  tho  Russinn-Amcrican 
Cornpuny  was  renewed  for  twenty  years,  by  the  Kniperor  Alex- 
ander;  and  on  tho  4th  of  September,  1821,  an  imperial  ulcaao,  or 
edict,  was  issued  at  Saint  Petersburgl),  by  which  the  whole  west 
coast  of  America  north  of  the  olst  parallel,  and  the  whole  east 
coast  of  Asia  north  of  the  latitude  of  45  degrees  .'iO  minutes,  and 
all  the  adjacent  and  intervening  islands,  were  declared  to  belong 
exclusively  to  Russia;  (Iireigners  being  prohibited,  under  heavy 
penalties,  from  approaching  within  a  hundred  miles  of  any  of 
those  territories,  except  in  <',ases  of  extreme  necessity. 
18:2.        This  vhase  was  communicated  to  the  (jiovernment  of  the  United 

^^^'  ''•  States  by  the  Chevalier  de  Polelica,  Russian  envoy  nt  Washing- 
ton, between  whom  and  Mr.  J.  Q,.  Adams,  the  American  Secre- 
tary of  State,  a  correspondence  took  place  on  the  subject.     Mr. 

Feb.  25.  Adams  began  by  expressing  the  astonishment  of  the  President  at 
these  claims  and  assumptions  of  the  Russian  («iv(!rnment,  and 
desired  to  know  upon  what  circumstances  they  were  founded. 

Feb.  28.  To  this  the  envoy  replied  by  a  long  communication,  containing  a 
sketch  (generally  erroneous)  of  the  discoveries  of  his  countrymen 
on  the  northwest  coast  of  America,  which  he  insisted  to  have 
extended  southward  as  far  as  the  40th  degree  of  latitude;  he 
defended  the  assumption  of  the  5.5th  parallel  as  the  southern  limit 
of  the  possessions  of  liis  Sovereign,  \\\io\\  the  ground  that  this 
line  was  midway  between  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia,  where  the 
Americans  had  formed  a  settlement,  and  New  vVrchangel,  the 
most  southern  Russian  establishment;  and  he  finally  maintained 
that  his  Government  would  be  justifiable  in  exercising  the  rights 
of  sovereignty  over  the  whole  of  the  Pacific  north  of  the  said  i)ar- 
allel,  inasmuch  as  that  section  of  the  sea  was  bounded  on  both 
sides  by  Russian  territories,  and  was  thus  in  fact  a  close  sea. 

Mar.  30.  The  Secretfxry  of  State,  in  return,  asserted  that  "  from  the  period 
of  the  existence  of  the  United  States  as  an  independent  nation, 
their  vessels  had  freely  navigated  those  seas ;  and  the  right  to 
navigate  them  was  a  part  of  that  independence,  as  also  the  right 
of  their  citizens  to  trade,  even  in  arms  and  miuiitions  of  war, 
with  the  aboriginal  natives  of  the  northwest  coast  of  America, 
who  were  not  under  the  territorial  jurisdiction  of  other  nations." 
He  denied  in  Mo  the  claim  of  the  Russians  to  any  part  of  Amer- 
ica south  of  the  55th  degree  of  latitude,  on  the  ground  that  this 
parallel  was  declared  in  the  charter*  of  the  Russian-American 

*  The  first  artiiMe  of  the  charter  or  privilege  granted  by  the  Ktnperor  Paul  to  the 
Russian- American  Company,  ^n  the  8ih  of  July,  179!>,  is  "as  follows: 

"  In  virtue  of  the  discovery  by  Russian  navigators  of  a  part  of  the  roast  of  Amer- 
ica in  the  northeast,  bejiinnin)?  from  the  .')5lh  degree  of  latitude,  and  of  chains  of 
islands  extending  from  Kamschatka,  nortliward  towards  Amerita,  and  souiliward 
towards  Japan,  Russia  has  acquireii  ihe  righi  of  possessing  iliose  l;iiuls;  lunl  the  said 
company  is  authorized  to  enjov  all  ihe  advantages  of  indiis  ry,  and  all  the  estab'ish- 
ments  upon  the  said  coast  of  America  in  the  northeast,  from  the  .'i.'iih  degree  of  lati- 
tude to  Bccrmg's  Strait,  and  beyond  it,  as  also  upon  the  Aleutian  and  Kurile  Islands, 
and  the  others  situated  in  the  eastern  Arctic  Ocean." 

By  the  second  article — 

"  the  company  may  make  new  discoveries,  not  only  north,  hut  also  south  of  Ihe 
said  .'iSth  parallel  of  latitude;  and  may  occuj)y  and  bring  imder  the  dominion  of  Rus- 
sia all  territories  thus  discovered;  observing  ihe  rule,  that  such  territories  should  not 
have  been  previously  occupied  and  placed  under  subjection  by  another  nation." 


177 


if  tlio  United 


Company  to  bo  the  southern  hmit  of  tho  discoveries  of  the  Rus-  iwj 
sians  in  17'.>9,  since  which  period  they  had  nmde  no  discoveries  Mnr.  30 
or  establishments  south  of  tho  said  hue,  on  the  cou»t  now  claimed 
by  tliem.  With  regard  to  the  suyyeslion  that  the  Russian  Gov- 
ernment might  justly  exercise  sovereignty  over  the  Pacific  Ocean 
(M  a  close  sea,  because  it  claims  territories  both  on  the  Asiatic  and 
the  American  shores,  Mr.  Adams  merely  observed,  that  the  dis- 
tance between  those  shores,  on  the  parallel  of /i I  degrees  north,  is 
four  thousand  mi/es;  and  he  concluded  by  expressing  the  persua- 
sion of  the  President  that  the  citizens  of  the  United  States  would 
remain  unmolested  in  the  prosecution  of  their  lawful  commerce, 
and  that  no  effect  would  be  given  to  a  prohibition  manifestly  in- 
compatible with  their  rights.  M.  de  Poletica,  a  few  days  after  Apiil2 
the  receipt  of  Mr.  Adams's  second  note,  sent  another  communi- 
cation respecting  tho  rights  of  his  Sovereign,  in  which  he  ad- 
vanced "the  authentic  fact,  that  in  17H9,  tho  Spanish  packet 
Saint  Charles,  conmianded  by  Captain  V  "o,  found,  in  the  lati- 
tude oifortif-eifrlit  andfortij-nine  deij^'ees  ussian  establishments 
to  the  number  of  eight,  consisting,  in  the  whole,  of  twenty  fami- 
lies and  f()ur  hundred  and  sixty-two  individuals,  who  were  the 
descendants  of  the  com[)anions  of  Captain  Tschirikof,  supposed 
until  then  to  have  iwrished."  It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  occupy 
time  in  exposing  the  erroneousness  of  this  "  authentic  faety 
Martinez  and  Haro  did,  indeed,  find  Russian  establishments  on 
the  American  coast  of  the  north  Pacific  in  1788;  but  they  were 
all  situated  in  the  latitudes  o{  fifty-eight  and  fifty-nine  degrees  ; 
and  the  individuals  inhabiting  them  had  been,  a  short  time  pre- 
vious, transported  thither  from  Kamschatka  and  the  Aleutian 
Islands,  by  Sheliikof,  the  founder  of  the  Russian- American  Com- 
pany.* 

The  prohibitory  edict  of  the  Russian  Emperor,  and  the  corres- 
pondence relating  to  it,  were  submitted  to  the  Congress  of  the 
United  States  in  April,  182;2;  and  in  the  course  of  the  ensuing 
year  a  negotiation  was  begun  at  Saint  Petersburgh,  with  the 
object  of  arranging  amicably  the  rights  and  interests  of  the  re- 
spective parties  on  the  northwest  side  of  America.  Another  ne- 
gotiation with  regard  to  that  part  of  the  world  was  also,  at  the 
same  time  and  place,  in  progress  between  the  plenipotentiaries  of 
Russia  and  Great  Britain ;  the  latter  Power  having  protested  for- 
mal ly  against  the  claims  and  principles  set  forth  in  the  ukase, 
immediately  on  its  appearance,  and  afterwards  at  Verona,  whilst 
the  Congress  of  Sovereigns  was  held  there.f  Under  these  cir-  1*23. 
cumstances,  the  Government  of  the  United  States  became  anx- 
ious that  a  joint  convention  should  be  concluded  between  the 
three  nations  having  claims  to  the  territories  in  question;  and  the 
envoys  of  the  Republic  at  London  and  Saint  Petersburgh  were 
therefore  instructed  to  propose  an  agreement,  to  the  effect — that  no 


1^ 


I, 


*  See  page  9G.  Fleuricu,  in  his  Introduction  to  Marchand's  Journal,  mentions  the 
rumor  that  Haro  had  found  Ru.ssian  settlements  in  17S8,  between  the  48th  and  4!)th 
degrees ;  but  he  at  the  same  time  exposes  the  error. 

t  Debate  in  Parliament  oa  the  inquiry  made  by  Sir  J.  Mackintosh,  May  31, 1633. 


!l 


178 


\ 


i  . 


1S23.  spttlomnnt  should  bo  niado  on  tho  north wost  roast,  or  tho  ndja- 
cont  isliuids,  (hiring  the  next  ton  years,  hy  llussiuns,  south  of  thn 
latitude  oiTy'i  degn.'os;  or  hy  citiztMis  of  tho  United  Htatcis  north  of 
the  latitude  of  51  degrees ;  or  by  llritish  subjects  cither  south  of 
the  r»lst,  or  north  of  the  5r>th  parallels. 

The  pro[K)sition  (or  a  joint  convention  was  not  accepted  by 
cither  of  the  (Jovernnicnts  to  which  it  was  addressed,  partly  in 
consequence  of  a  clause  in  the  annual  message  sent  by  President 
Monroe  to  Congress,  in  December,  1H23,  statuig — that  in  the  dis- 
cussions and  arrangements  relative  to  the  northwest  coast  then 
going  on,  "  the  occasion  had  been  judged  proper  for  asserting,  as 
a  principle  in  which  the  rights  and  interests  of  the  United  States 
ore  involved,  that  the  American  continents,  by  the  free  and  inde- 

Ecndcnt  condition  which  they  have  assumed  atid  maintain,  are 
encefJirth  not  to  be  considered  as  subjects  for  colonization  by  aiiy 
European  Power."  This  principle  (which  it  would,  perhaps, 
have  been  more  p<ilitic  to  keep  in  petto  than  to  assert  openly) 
the  British  and  Russian  (lovernmenls  each  refused  to  admit;  and 
there  being  many  other  points  on  which  it  was  not  probable  that 
the  three  parties  could  over  agree,  it  was  considered  preferable 
that  the  negotiations  should  be  carried  on  separately,  as  they  had 
been,  at  London  and  at  Saint  Petersburgh. 

Another  p  \blication,  on  the  part  of  the  American  Government, 
soon  after  contributed  to  render  more  diflicult  the  settlement  of 
tho  question  of  boundaries  on  tho  Pacific  between  the  United 
States  and  Great  Britain. 
Dec,  29.  A  select  committee  was  appointed  by  the  House  of  Represent- 
atives of  the  United  States,  in  December,  1823,  with  instructions 
to  inquire  into  the  expediency  of  occupying  the  mouth  of  the 
Columbia.  This  committee,  in  the  course  of  its  duties,  request- 
ed General  Thomas  S.  Jesup,  the  Quartermaster  General  of  the 
army,  to  communicate  his  opinions  respecting  tho  propriety  of 
the  measure  proposed,  as  well  as  its  practicability  and  the  best 
method  of  executing  it ;  in  reply  to  which,  tho  General  sent  a 
1&24.  letter  containing  an  exposition  of  his  views  of  the  true  policy 
of  the  United  States  with  regard  to  tho  northwest  coasts  and 
territories  of  America,  and  of  the  means  by  which  they  might 
be  carried  into  effect.  Leaving  aside  the  question  as  to  the 
rights  of  the  United  States,  he  considered  tho  possession  and 
military  command  of  the  Columbia  and  of  the  upper  Missouri 
necessary  for  the  protection,  not  only  of  the  fur  trade,  but  also  of 
the  whole  western  frontier  of  the  republic,  which  is  everywhere 
in  contact  with  numerous,  powerful,  and  warlike  tribes  of  sav- 
ages; and,  for  this  purpose,  he  recommended  the  immediate  de- 
spatch of  two  hundred  men  across  the  continent  to  the  mouth 
of  the  Columbia,  while  two  merchant  vessels  should  transport 
thither  the  cannon,  ammunition,  materials,  and  stores  requisite 
for  the  first  establishment;  after  which, four  or  five  intermediate 
posts  should  be  formed  at  points  between  Council  Bluffs,  on  the 
Missouri,  (the  most  western  spot  then  occupied  by  American 
troops,)  and  the  Pacific.  By  such  means,  says  the  letter,  "  pres- 
ent protection  would  be  afforded  to  our  traders,  and,  on  the  ex- 


179 


I  I 


,  or  tlifl  ndja- 
1,  smith  of  the 
?fat(!s  north  of 

ilhor  south  of 

;  nccnptod  by 

si'il,  piirtly  in 

t  by  President 

lilt  in  the  dis- 

3st  coast  then 

r  assorting,  ns 

Ihiitod  States 

free  nnd  indc- 

muintain,  arc 

ization  by  any 

)uld,  perhaps, 

assert  openly) 

to  admit;  and 

t  probable  tliat 

jred  preferable 

ly,  as  they  hud 

1  Government, 
J  settlement  of 
on  the  United 

3  of  Represent- 
th  instructions 

mouth  of  the 
luties,  request- 
General  of  the 
ho  propriety  of 
y  and  the  best 
General  sent  a 
Lhe  true  policy 
''est  coasts  and 
ich  they  might 
tion  as  to  the 
possession  and 
upper  Missouri 
ade,  but  also  of 

is  everywhere 
5  tribes  of  sav- 

immediate  de- 
t  to  the  mouth 
[lould  transport 
stores  requisite 
ve  intermediate 
1  Bluffs,  on  the 
d  by  American 
he  letter, "  pres- 
md,  on  the  ex- 


piration of  tli(5  privilege  granted  to  Oritish  subjects  to  tnido  on 
the  waters  of  tho  Columbia,  wo  should  be  enabled  to  remove 
them  from  our  territory,  and  to  secure  the  whole  trad<!  to  our 
own  citizens." 

Tho  re|M)rt,  to  which  this  letter  was  nnnexod,  was  ordrred  to 
lie  on  tliu  table  of  the  House;  and  nothing  mon  was  done;  on 
tho  subject  during  that  session.     The  paiKJifs,  however,  were 

Eublished,  and  they  immediately  attracted  the  attentitm  rf  tli« 
Iritish  ministry.  In  a  conference  held  at  London  in  July  I'ol 
lowing,  between  tho  American  envoy,  Mr.  llii^h,  and  tli'  Brit- 
ish commissioners,  Messrs.  Huskisson  and  Stuiford  Canning, 
tho  latter  genUemen  conuncnted  uikui  the  observatinns  of  Gen- 
eral Jesup,  particularly  upon  those  respecting  tho  removal  of 
British  traders  from  the  territories  of  the  Columbia,  which  they 
said  "  were  calculated  to  put  Great  Britain  especially  upon  her 
guard,  appearing  us  they  did  at  a  moment  when  a  friendly  ne- 
gotiation was  pending  between  the  two  Powers  for  th(5  ndjust- 
ment  of  their  relative  and  conflicting  claims  to  that  entire  dis- 
trict of  country."  From  the  accounts  of  Mr.  Rush,  and  those 
given  subsequently  by  Mr.  Gallatin,  there  is  no  doubt  that 
the  publication  of  General  Jesup's  letter,  and  the  declaration  in 
President  Monroe's  message  against  tho  establishment  of  1']\ito- 
pean  colonies  in  America,  rendered  tho  British  Government  nuich 
more  indisposed  to  any  concession,  with  regard  to  the  northwest 
territories,  than  it  would  otherwise  have  been. 

The  negotiation  mentioned  in  the  preceding  paragraph  was 
not  long  continued ;  the  parties  being  so  entirely  at  variance  with 
regard  to  facts  as  well  as  principles,  that  the  impossibility  of  ef- 
fecting any  arrangement  soon  became  evident  to  the  plenipo- 
tentiaries on  both  sides.  Mr.  Rush  cited  the  discoveries  of  the 
Spaniards  on  tho  northwest  coasts  of  America,  to  the  benefit  of 
which  he  maintained  that  the  United  States  were  entitled  in  vir- 
tue of  the  Florida  treaty ;  and  also  the  discovery  of  the  Columbia 
by  Gray,  as  endowing  his  nation  with  the  strongest  rights  to  the 
possession  of  the  territories  drained  by  that  river ;  and  ho  insist- 
ed, agreeably  to  express  instructions  from  his  Government,  "  that 
no  part  of  the  American  continent  was  henceforth  to  be  open  to 
colonization  from  Europe."  The  British  commissioners,  on  the 
other  hand,  doubted  tho  truth  of  many  of  the  circumstances  re- 
lated with  regard  to  the  Spanish  expeditions  in  the  north  Pacific, 
and  alleged,  as  more  authentic,  the  accounts  of  the  voyage  of 
Drake,  from  which  it  appeared  that  he  had  in  1579  explored  the 
west  coast  of  America  to  the  48th  parallel  of  latitude,  five  or  six 
degrees  farther  north  than  tho  Spaniards  pretended  to  have  ad- 
vanced before  that  period.  They  refused  "  to  admit  that  the  mere 
fact  of  Spanish  navigators  having  first  seen  the  coast  at  partic- 
ular points,  even  where  this  Avas  capable  of  being  substantiated, 
without  any  subsequent  or  efficient  acts  of  sovereignty  or  settle- 
ment, should  exclude  all  other  nations  from  that  portion  of  the 
globe."  They  also  denied  that  the  circumstance  of  an  American 
merchant  vessel  having  penetrated  the  coast  of  the  continent  at 
the  Columbia  River  could  confer  on  the  United  States  any  claim 


l«J4. 


July. 


1 


I 


180 


!! 


'i 


i}' 


182^i.  along  the  same  coast,  which  had  been  discovered  and  explored 
by  Great  Britain  herself,  in  expeditions  fitted  out  under  the  au- 
thority and  with  the  resources  of  the  nation.  Finally,  they  de- 
clared "  that  the  clainx  of  the  United  States  respecting  the  terri- 
tory watered  by  the  Columbia  and  its  tributaries,  as  set  forth  by 
Mr.  Rush,  besides  being  essentially  objectionable  in  its  general 
bearing,  had  the  effect  of  interfering  directly  with  the  actual 
rights  of  Great  Britain,  derived  from  use,  occupancy,  and  settle- 
ment ;  and  that  they  considered  the  unoccupied  parts  of  America 
open,  as  heretofore,  to  col  >nization  by  Great  Britain,  or  by  other 
European  Powers,  agreeably  to  the  convention  of  1790,"  which 
they  contended  had  become  a  part  of  the  universal  law  of  nations. 

June  29,  After  much  discussion  on  these  points,  Mr.  Rush  presented, 
on  the  part  of  his  Government,  a  proposal — that  any  country 
west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  which  might  be  claimed  by  either 
nation,  should,  with  the  navigation  of  all  its  waters,  be  free  and 
open  to  both  nations  for  ten  years ;  provided  that,  during  the 
said  period,  no  settlements  were  to  be  made  by  British  subjects 
south  of  the  51st  degree  of  latitude,  or  by  American  citizens  north 
of  that  parallel.  To  this  proposal,  which  Mr.  Rush  afterwards 
varied  by  substituting  the  49th  degree  lor  the  51st,  Messrs.  Hus- 

July  13.  kisson  and  Canning  replied,  definitively,  by  a  counter-project, 
to  the  effect — that  the  boundary  between  the  territories  of  Great 
Britain  and  those  of  the  United  States,  west  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains, should  be  a  line  drawn  from  those  mountains  westward, 
along  the  49th  parallel,  to  the  nearest  head-waters  of  the  Colum- 
bia, and  thence  down  the  middle  of  the  stream  to  its  termination 
in  the  Pacific;  the  British  possessing  the  country  north  and 
west  of  such  line,  and  the  Americans  that  on  the  other  side : 
provided,  that  the  citizens  or  subjects  of  both  nations  should  be 
at  liberty,  during  the  next  ten  years,  to  pass  by  land  or  by  water 
through  all  the  territories,  and  to  retain  and  use  their  establish- 
ments already  formed  in  any  part  of  them.  Immediately  after 
the  presentation  of  this  counter-project,  the  negotiation  respect- 
ing the  northwest  territories  of  America  was  suspended,  and  it 
was  not  renewed  until  November,  1826.* 

In  the  mean  time  the  negotiation  in  progress  at  St.  Peters- 
burgh,  between  the  Russian  and  the  American  Governments, 
was  terminated  by  a  convention,  signed  on  the  17th  of  April, 
1824,  of  which  the  following  is  the  substance  :  The  citizens  or 
subjects  of  the  two  nations  are  not  to  be  disturbed  or  restrained 
in  navigating  any  part  of  the  Pacific,  or  in  resorting  to  its  coasts 
for  the  purposes  of  fishing  or  of  trading  with  the  natives,  in 
places  not  already  occupied ;  provided,  that  citizens  of  the  United 
States  are  not  to  resort  to  any  Russian  establishment,  nor  Rus- 
sian subjects  to  any  American  establishment,  on  the  northwest 
coasts  of  America,  without  permission  from  the  governor  or  com- 
mander of  such  place.  No  establishment  is  in  future  to  be 
formed  upon  the  northwest  coasts  of  America,  or  the  adjacent  is- 
lands, by  citizens  of  the  United  States,  north  of  the  latitude  of  54 

♦  Documenls  accompanying  the  President's  message  of  January  31, 1826. 


degrees 
of  Russ 
nations 
seas,  gi 
poses  o 
neverth 
their  cii 
any  am 
vided,  tl 
pretext 
or  for  tl 
against 
serving 
ties,  aiK 
of  this  1 
Thus 
so  far  a 
enforcec 
turned  i 
were,  ai 
their  in 
stated,  1 
the  inte 
been  rei 
changed 
On  th 
northwe 
eluded 
Its  prov 
trade  wi 
tical  wit 
sia,  in  t 
and  defi 
cation  1: 
the  con 
made  tt 
Wales's 
and  to  r 
to  the  5 
the  moi 
of  inters 
wich,  (f 
continu( 
but,  wh 
ten  leag 
at  the  d 
to  form 
British 

*  Appei 
American 
sonment. 

t  Herst 


[  and  explored 
under  the  au- 
lally,  they  de- 
ting  the  terri- 
is  set  forth  by 
in  its  general 
ith  the  actual 
cy,  and  settle- 
irts  of  America 
in,  or  by  other 
^1790,"  which 
law  of  nations. 
11  sh  presented, 
t  any  country 
imed  by  either 
?rs,  be  free  and 
lat,  during  the 
Jritish  subjects 
1  citizens  north 
ush  afterwards 
t,  Messrs.  Hus- 
:ounter-project, 
itories  of  Great 
;  Rocky  Moun- 
tains westward, 
>  of  the  Coluin- 

its  termination 
ntry  north  and 
the  other  side: 
lions  should  be 
md  or  by  water 

their  establish- 
imediately  after 
Dtiation  respect- 
spended,  and  it 

5s  at  St.  Peters- 
1  Governments, 
5  17th  of  April, 
The  citizens  or 
)ed  or  restrained 
ting  to  its  coasts 
the  natives,  in 
ns  of  the  United 
timent,  nor  Rus- 
n  the  northwest 
[overnor  or  com- 
in  future  to  be 
•  the  adjacent  is- 
he  latitude  of  54 

anuary  31, 1826. 


181 

degrees  and  40  minutes,  nor  by  Russians,  or  under  the  authority  lei-l 
of  Russia,  south  of  that  latitude.  The  citizens  or  subjects  of  both 
nations  may,  during  the  next  ten  years,  frequent  the  interior 
seas,  gulfs,  harbors,  and  creeks  upon  the  said  coasts,  for  the  pur- 
poses of  fishing  or  of  trading  with  the  natives.  The  two  Powers, 
nevertheless,  engage,  reciprocally,  neither  to  sell,  nor  to  sutler 
their  citizens  or  subjects  to  sell,  to  the  natives  on  the  said  coasts, 
any  arms,  powder,  munitions  of  war,  or  spirituous  liquors ;  pro- 
vided,  that  this  restriction  is  not  to  be  regarded  as  affording  a 
pretext  for  the  search  or  detention  of  vessels  engaged  in  trading, 
or  for  the  seizure  of  the  articles,  or  for  any  measure  of  restraint 
against  the  merchants  or  their  crews  ;  the  parties  respectively  re- 
serving  to  themselves  the  right  of  determining  upon  the  penal- 
ties, and  of  inflicting  the  punishments,  in  cases  of  contravention 
of  this  prohibition  by  their  citizens  or  subjects.* 

Thus  was  the  ukase  of  September,  18"il,  virtually  annulled, 
so  for  as  regarded  American  citizens,  against  whom  it  had  been 
enforced  in  one  instance  only.  The  brig  Pearl,  of  Boston,  was 
turned  away  from  Sitca  in  October,  1822;  her  owners,  however, 
were,  after  the  conclusion  of  the  convention,  indemnified  for 
their  injuries  by  the  Russian  Government.  It  may  be  here 
stated,  that  the  stipulation  respecting  the  trade  and  fishery  in 
the  interior  waters  on  the  northwest  side  of  America  has  not 
been  renewed ;  the  other  engagements  continue  in  force,  un- 
changed. 

On  the  28th  of  February,  1825,  a  convention,  relative  to  the  16*2.^. 
northwest  coast  of  America  and  the  adjacent  seas,  was  also  con-  ^'^^-  -'^ 
eluded  between  the  Governments  of  Russia  and  Great  Britain. f 
Its  provisions  concerning  the  navigation  of  the  Pacific,  and  the 
trade  with  the  natives  of  the  American  coasts,  were  nearly  iden- 
tical with  those  agreed  on  between  the  United  States  and  Rus- 
sia, in  the  preceding  year  ;  it  is,  however,  much  more  particular 
and  definite  as  regards  territorial  limits.  "  The  line  of  demar- 
cation between  the  possessions  of  the  parties  upon  the  coasts  of 
the  continent  and  the  islands  of  America,  in  the  northwest,"  is 
made  to  commence  from  the  southernmost  point  of  Prince  of 
Wales's  Island,  in  the  latitude  of  .54  degrees  and  40  minutes, 
and  to  run  eastward  to  the  Portland  Channel,  which  it  ascends 
to  the  56th  degree  of  latitude;  thence  it  follows  the  summit  of 
the  mountains  situated  parallel  to  the  coast,  as  far  as  the  point 
of  intersection  of  the  141st  degree  of  longitude  west  from  Green- 
wich, (passing  through  the  west  side  of  Mount  Saint  Elias,)  and 
continues  along  that  meridian,  northward,  to  the  Arctic  Ocean  ; 
but,  wherever  the  said  summit  of  the  mountains  is  more  than 
ten  leagues  from  the  sea,  the  boundary  runs  parallel  to  the  coast 
at  the  distance  of  ten  leagues  from  it.  The  Russians  are  never 
to  form  an  establishment  south  or  east  of  this  line,  nor  are  the 
British  to  form  any  on  the  other  side  of  it;  but  the  British  aie 

♦  Appendix  [F]  to  ihis  memoir.  By  ihe  act  of  Congress  of  May  19,  IH'26,  any 
American  citizen  contravening  this  prohibition  becomes  liable  to  fine  aiul  impri- 
sonment. 

t  Herstlett's  British  Treaties,  vol.  iii,  page  362:  and  appendix  [FJ  to  Ihis  memoir, 

13 


I- 


fa 


t  I, 


.5 


K  \ 


m 


182 


1825.  to  enjoy  forever  the  right  of  navigating  all  streams,  which  may 
cross  the  said  boundary  in  their  course  from  the  interior  of  the 
continent  to  the  sea.  The  navigation  of  the  inland  seas,  gulfs, 
harbors,  and  creeks  on  the  coasts,  for  the  purposes  of  fishing  or 
of  trading  with  the  natives,  is  left  free  to  both  parties  for  ten 
years,  under  restrictions  similar  to  those  set  forth  in  the  con- 
vention between  Russia  and  the  United  States  ;  and  the  port  of 
Sitca,  or  New  Archangel,  is  opened  to  British  subjects  during  the 
same  period.  These  provisions  were  not  renewed  at  the  expira- 
tion of  the  ten  years;  all  the  other  stipulations  still  remain  in  force. 
In  these  two  conventions  the  Governments  of  the  United  States 
and  Great  Britain,  separately  and  independently,  yet  equally  and 
clearly,  though  implicitly,  recognise  the  exclusive  privilege  of 
Russia  to  occupy  all  the  coasts  and  islands  of  the  Pacific  side  of 
America,  north  of  the  latitude  of  54  degrees  and  40  minutes,  and 
to  exercise  sovereignty  over  the  places  thus  occupied,  but  withmit 
acknowledging  her  absolute  and  entire  possession  of  all  that  part  of 
America.  With  regard  to  the  territories  extending  southward  from 
the  said  parallel,  in  which  the  Russians  are  to  make  no  estab- 
lishment, the  right  of  occupation  is  claimed  by  both  the  other 
Powers;  indirectly  by  the  United  States,  but  distinctly  and  to  the 
exclusion  of  all  other  nations  by  Great  Britain. 

In  December,  1824,  President  Monroe,  by  his  last  annual  mes- 
sage to  Congress,  advised  the  immediate  establishment  of  a  mili- 
tary post  at  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia,  and  also  the  despatch  of 
a  frigate  for  the  survey  of  the  coasts  contiguous  to  that  point,  and 
for  the  protection  of  American  interests  in  the  north  Pacific.  The 
same  measures  were  in  the  following  year  recommended  by  Pres- 
ident Adams,  among  the  various  plans  for  the  advantage  of  the 
United  States,  and  of  the  world  in  general,  to  which  he  directed 
the  attention  of  the  Federal  Legislature,  at  the  commencement  of 
its  session.     In  compliance  with  this  recommendation,  a  com- 

I8:Y,  mittee  was  appointed  by  the  House  of  Representatives,  the  chair- 
man of  which  (Mr.  Baylies)  submitted  two  reports,  containing 
numerous  details  respecting — the  history  (tf  discovery  and  trade  in 
Northwest  America;  the  geography,  soil,  climate,  and  productions 
of  the  portion  claimed  by  the  United  States ;  the  number  and 
value  of  the  furs  procured  in  it;  the  expenses  of  surveying  its 
coasts,  and  of  forming  military  establishments  for  its  occupation; 
and  many  other  points  connected  with  those  matters :  and  he 
concluded  by  bringing  in  a  bill  for  the  immediate  execution  of 
the  measures  proposed  by  the  President.*  This  bill  was  laid  on 
the  table  of  the  House,  and  the  subject  was  not  again  agitated 
in  Congress  until  two  years  afterwards ;  little  or  no  interest  re- 
specting the  northwest  territories  of  America  was  in  fact  then  felt 
by  citizens  of  the  United  States,  either  in  or  out  of  Congress. 

By  this  time,  the  pt^riod  of  ten  years,  during  which  the  coun- 
tries claimed  by  Great  Britain,  or  by  the  United  States,  west  of 
the  Rocky  Mountains,  were  to  remain  free  and  open  to  the  people 
of  both  nations,  was  drawing  to  a  close;  and  it  was  desirable  that 

*  iSee  reports  uf  ihe  House  of  Representatives,  1st  session  of  (lie  19th  Congress. 


ments, 
yond  th 
that  wh 
howeve 
Americi 
disposa 
Unde 
Go verm 
these 
British 
Governi 
lumbia 
nations 
States  I 
of  latiti 
and  the 


s,  which  may- 
interior  of  the 
id  seas,  gulfs, 
s  of  fishing  or 
)arties  for  ten 
in  the  con- 
ind  the  port  of 
cts  during  the 

at  the  expira- 
emain  in  force. 

United  States 
et  equally  and 
fe  privilege  of 

Pacific  side  of 
)  minutes,  and 
ied,  but  without 
■  all  that  part  of 
southward  from 
(lake  no  estab- 
both  the  other 
ictly  and  to  the 

ist  annual  mes- 
iment  of  a  mili- 

the  despatch  of 
I  that  point,  and 
.h  Pacific.  The 
tended  by  Pres- 
dvantage  of  the 
lich  he  directed 
mmencement  of 
idation,  a  com- 
itives,  the  chair- 
lorts,  containing 
rery  and  trade  in 
and  productions 
he  number  and 
of  surveying  its 
r  its  occupation ; 
natters:  and  he 
ate  execution  of 

bill  was  laid  on 
>t  again  agitated 
)r  no  interest  re- 
I  in  fact  then  felt 
of  Congress, 
which  the  coun- 
i  States,  west  of 
pen  to  the  people 
ms  desirable  that 

:  the  19th  Congress. 


183 

some  definitive  arrangement  respecting  those  countries  should,  itKu 
if  possible,  be  made  between  the  two  Governments,  before  the 
expiration  of  that  term.  With  this  object,  a  negotiation  was  com- 
menced at  London;  or,  rather,  the  negotiation  which  had  been 
broken  off  in  1824,  was  renewed  in  November,  1826;  Mr.  Al- 
bert Gallatin  representing  the  interests  of  the  United  States,  and 
Messrs.  Huskisson  and  Addington  those  of  Great  Britain. 

Before  entering  upon  the  details  of  this  negotiation,  it  should 
be  observed,  that  the  difficulty  of  effecting  a  satisfactory  anauge- 
ment  for  the  partition  of  the  disputed  territories  had  been  materi- 
ally increased  since  1818,  in  consequence  of  the  great  inequality 
which  had  been  produced  in  the  relative  positions  of  the  two  par- 
ties, as  regards  actual  occupation  by  their  respective  citizens  or 
subjects.  In  1826  the  British  were  enjoying,  almost  exclusively, 
the  use  and  control  of  the  whole  country  beyond  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  north  of  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia.  The  union  of 
the  two  rival  companies  in  1821 ,  and  the  establishment  of  civil  and 
criminal  jurisdiction  throughout  the  division  of  America  allotted 
to  them,  proved  very  advantageous  to  Great  Britain,  politically  as 
well  as  commercially.  The  Hudson's  Bay  Company  became  at 
once  a  powerful  body ;  its  resources  were  no  longer  wasted  in 
disputes  with  a  rival  association ;  its  regulations  were  enforced ; 
its  operations  were  conducted  with  security  and  efficiency ;  and 
encouragement  was  afforded  for  the  extension  of  its  posts  and 
communications,  by  the  assurance  that  tiie  honor  of  the  Govern- 
ment was  thereby  more  strongly  engaged  in  its  support.  Many 
of  these  posts  were  fortified,  and  could  be  defended  by  their  in- 
mates— men  inured  to  dangers  and  hardships  of  all  kinds — against 
any  attacks  which  might  be  apprehended ;  and  thus,  in  the  course 
of  a  few  years,  the  whole  region  north  and  northwest  of  the  Uni- 
ted States,  from  Hudson's  Bay  and  Canada  to  the  Pacific,  partic- 
ularly the  portion  traversed  by  the  Columbia  and  its  branches, 
was  occupied,  in  a  military  sense,  by  British  forces,  although 
there  Avas  not  a  single  British  soldier,  strictly  speaking,  within 
its  limits. 

The  United  States,  on  the  other  hand,  possessed  no  establish- 
ments, and  exercised  no  authority  or  jurisdiction  whatsoever,  be- 
yond the  Rocky  Mountains;  and  the  number  of  their  citizens  in 
that  whole  territory  did  not  probably  exceed  two  hundred.  This, 
however,  is  not  to  be  attributed  to  want  of  enterprise  in  the 
Americans,  but  simply  to  the  fact  that  they  had  already  at  their 
disposal  much  finer  countries  in  their  immediate  vicinity. 

Under  such  circumstances  were  the  negotiations  between  the 
Governments  of  Great  Britain  and  the  United  States,  relative  to 
these  territories,  renewed  at  London  in  November,  1826.  The  Noveinfc 
British  plenipotentiaries  began  by  declaring  the  readiness  of  their 
Government  to  abide  by  its  offer,  made  in  1824— to  admit  the  Co- 
lumbia as  the  line  of  separation  between  the  territories  of  the  two 
nations,  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  securing  to  the  United 
States  all  that  lies  east  of  that  river,  and  south  of  the  49th  parallel 
of  latitude.  To  this  offer  Mr.  Gallatin  gave  a  decided  negative; 
and  then  repeated  the  proposition  which  had  been  submitted  by 


i 


;;1 


I  ' 


'  \ 


184 


I 


lif 


%i 


lfl-2C.  himself  and  Mr.  Rush  in  1818,  for  the  adoption  of  the  49th  par- 
allel as  the  boundary  from  the  mountains  to  the  Pacific;  Avitli  the 
additions — that  if  the  said  line  should  cross  any  of  the  branches 
of  the  Columbia  at  points  from  which  they  are  navigable  by  boats 
to  the  main  stream,  the  navigation  of  such  branches,  and  of  tlie 
main  stream,  should  be  perpetually  free  and  common  to  the  peo- 
ple of  both  nations ;  that  the  citizens  or  subjects  of  neither  party 
should  thenceforward  make  any  settlements  in  the  territories  of 
the  other;  but  that  all  settlements  already  formed  by  the  people 
of  either  nation  within  the  limits  of  the  other,  might  be  occupied 
and  used  by  them  for  ten  years,  and  no  longer;  during  which,  all 
the  remaining  provisions  of  the  existing  convention  should  cou- 

fioo.  1.  tinue  in  flirce.  This  proposition  was  in  like  manner  rejected  by 
the  British,  who  then  expressed  their  willingness,  in  addition  to 
their  first  ofler,  to  yield  to  the  United  States  a  detached  territory 
nortli  of  the  Columbia,  in  the  angle  formed  by  the  Pacific  const 
and  the  south  side  of  the  Strait  of  Fuca,  embracing  Port  Discov- 
ery and  Bidfinch's  Harbor.  Mr.  Gallatin  refused  his  assent  to 
this,  or  any  other  arrangement  giving  to  Great  Britain  the  pos- 
session  of  territory  south  of  the  49th  parallel ;  and  the  negotiators, 
having  no  expectation  of  eflfecting  a  partition  of  the  country  In 
dispute,  directed  their  attention  solely  to  the  subject  of  tlie  cou- 
tinuaui'o  of  the  joint  occupancy  of  the  whole  region. 

I'r.  1,;.  For  that  object,  the  British  proposed  that  the  arrangement  ac- 
tually subsisting  should  be  renewed  and  prolonged  for  fifteen 
years,  with  the  provisions  that  neither  Power  should  assume  or 
exercise  any  right  of  sovereignty  or  dominion  over  any  part  of 
the  country  during  that  period  ;  and  that  no  settlement  then  ex- 
isting, or  which  might  in  future  be  formed,  should  ever  be  ad- 
duced by  either  party  in  support  or  furtherance  of  such  claims  of 
sovereignty  or  dominion.  This  proposition  was  taken  by  Mr. 
Gallatin  for  reference  to  his  Government;  and  the  discussions 
were  in  consequence  suspended  until  May  of  the  following  year. 
i.^JT,  The  President  of  the  United  States  refused  to  agree  to  any 
modification  of  the  terms  of  the  joint  occupancy;  and  Mr.  Galla- 
tin was  at  the  same  time  instructed  to  declare,  that  the  Amencnn 
Government  did  not  hold  itself  bound  hereafter ,  in  consequence  of 
any  proposal  which  it  had  nuide^  for  a  line  of  separation  between 
the  territories  of  the  two  nations  beyond  the  Rocky  Mountains ; 
but  would  consider  itself  at  liberty  to  contend  for  the  full  extent  of 
the  claims  of  the  United  States.  The  British  commissioners  made 
a  similar  declaration  with  regard  to  the  proposals  which  had  been 
advanced  on  the  part  of  their  Government;  and  intimated  their 
readiness  to  agree  to  a  simple  renewal  of  the  existing  arrange- 
ment, provided  an  article  were  appended,  explanatory  of  what  they 
considered  to  be  its  true  meaning  and  bearing.  Mr.  Gallatin  was 
unable  to  assent  to  any  addition,  of  that  or  any  other  nature;  and 

Aiif.'.  -20.  at  length,  on  the  20th  of  August,  a  convention*  was  signed,  to  the 
effect — that  all  the  provisions  of  the  third  article  of  the  convention 

♦  Convention  of  1827  between  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain,  in  the  Ap- 
pendix [FJ  to  this  memoir. 


*  Docun 


M' 


the  49th  par- 
lific  -,  with  the 

the  branches 
»able  by  bouts 
es,  and  of  the 
on  to  the  peo- 
f  neither  party 
e  territories  of 

by  the  people 
lit  be  occupied 
ring  which,  all 
n  should  Con- 
ner rejected  by 
,  in  addition  to 
ached  territory 
e  Pacific  coast 
g  Port  Discov- 
l  his  assent  to 
Britain  the  pos- 
the  negotiators, 
the  country  in 
icct  of  the  cou- 
)n. 

irrangenient  ac- 
iged  for  fifteen 
ould  assume  or 
ver  any  part  of 
ement  then  ex- 
uld  ever  be  ad- 
f  such  cU\inis  of 
s  taken  by  Mr. 
the  discussions 

following  year, 
to  agree  to  any 

and  Mr.  Galla- 
at  tlie  Amerivnn 
n  conseqwuce  of 
jaration  between 
cky  Mountains; 
the  full  extent  oj 
missioners  made 
which  had  been 
1  intimated  their 
ixisting  arrange- 
to  ry  of  what  they 
Mr.  Gallatin  was 
>ther  nature ;  and 
i^as  signed,  to  the 
)f  the  convention 


,t  Britain,  in  the  Ap- 


185 

of  October,  1818,  should  be  further  indefinitely  continued  in  1S07 
force;  either  party  being,  however,  at  liberty,  after  the  ^Oth  of 
October,  1828,  to  annul  and  abrogate  tlie  engagement,  on  giving 
due  notice  of  twelve  months  to  tlie  other.  This  agreement  still 
remains  in  force,  notwithstanding  the  many  efforts  which  have 
been  made  in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  to  procure  its 
abrogation. 

In  the  course  of  this  negotiation,  the  claims  of  the  respective 
parties  to  the  territories  were  fully  set  forth,  and  thoroughly  ex- 
amined, not  only  in  conferences  between  the  ])lcnipotentiaries, 
but  also  in  written  statements*  submitted  on  each  side,  "^{'o  re- 
view all  the  assumptions  and  arguments  thus  advanced,  in  detail, 
would  be  superfluous,  as  they  have  been  kept  in  mind  through- 
out this  memoir;  it  will  be  proper,  however,  to  present  a  sum- 
mary of  them,Avith  remarks  on  points  not  already  noticed,  as  the 
best  means  of  showing  the  positions  assumed  by  each  Govern- 
ment at  that  time. 

Mr.  Gallatin  claimed  for  the  United  States  the  possession  of  the 
country  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  between  the  •12d  and  the 
49th  parallels  of  latitude,  upon  the  grounds  of — 

The  first  discovery  of  the  Columbia,  by  tiray;  the  first  explor- 
ation of  the  territory  through  wliich  that  river  flows,  by  Lewis 
and  Clarke;  and  the  establishment  of  the  first  posts  and  settle- 
ments in  the  said  territory,  by  citizens  of  the  United  States  : 

The  virtual  recognition  by  the  British  Government  of  the  title 
of  the  United  States,  in  the  restitution  of  the  post  near  the  mouth 
of  tlie  Columbia,  agreeably  to  the  first  article  of  the  treaty  of 
Ghent,  without  any  reservation  or  excejjtion  whatsoever: 

The  acijuisition  by  the  United  States  of  all  the  titles  of  Spain, 
which  titles  were  derived  iVom  the  discovery  and  exploration  of 
the  coasts  of  the  region  in  question,  by  Spanish  subjects,  before 
they  had  been  seen  by  tlu;  people  of  any  other  civilized  nation: 

And,  lastly,  upon  the  ground  o(  rontii:uiti/,  which  should  give 
to  the  United  States  a  stronger  right  to  those  territories  than  could 
be  advanced  by  any  otiier  Power.  "If,"  said  Mr.  Gallatin,  "a 
lew  trading  factories  on  the  shores  of  Hudson's  I3ay  have  been 
considered  by  Great  Hritaiu  as  giving  an  exclusive  right  of  oci'u- 
pantty  as  far  as  the  Rocky  Mountains — if  the  infant  settlements 
on  the  more  southern  Atlantic  shores  justified  a  claim  thence  to 
the  South  Seas,  and  Miiich  was  actually  enforced  to  the  31issis- 
sippi — that  of  the  millions  of  American  citizens  already  within 
reach  of  those  seas,  cannot  consistently  be  rejected.  It  will  not 
be  denied,  that  the  extent  of  contiguous  country  to  whicii  an 
acttial  settlement  gives  a  prior  right,  must  depend,  in  a  consider- 
able degree,  on  the  magnitude  and  population  of  that  settlement, 
and  on  the  facility  M'ith  which  the  vacant  adjacent  land  may, 
within  a  short  time,  be  occupied,  settled,  and  cultivated  by  such 
population,  compared  with  the  probability  of  its  being  occupied 
and  settled  from  any  other  quarter.  This  doctrine  was  admitted 
to  its  fullest  extent  by  Great  Britain,  as  appeared  by  all  her  char- 


*  Document  of  the  House  of  Reprebenlatives,  20lh  Congress,  1st  session,  No.  199. 


*: 


186 


n 


1827.  ters,  extending  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific,  given  to  colonies 
established  then  only  on  the  borders  of  the  Atlantic.  How  much 
more  natural  and  stronger  the  claim,  -when  made  by  a  nation 
whose  population  extended  to  the  central  parts  of  the  continent, 
and  whose  dominions  were  by  all  acknowledged  to  extend  to  the 
Rocky  Mountains." 

The  British  plenipotentiaries,  on  the  other  hand,  endeavored 
to  prove,  as  already  staled — 

That  the  Columbia  was  not  discovered  by  Gray,  who  had  only 
entered  tlie  bay  at  its  mouth,  discovered  four  years  previous  by 
Lieutenant  Meares,  of  the  British  navy  :* 

That  the  exploration  of  the  interior  of  the  country  of  the  Col- 
umbia by  Lewis  and  Clarke,  could  not  be  cited  by  the  United 
States  as  strengthening  and  confirming  their  claim  to  that  terri- 
tory, because,  "  if  not  before,  at  least  in  the  same  and  subsrrfvent 
years,  the  British  Northwest  Company  had,  by  means  of  their 
agent,  Mr.  Thompson,  already  established  their  posts  on  tlie 
head  waters  or  main  branch  of  the  Columbia  :"t 

That  the  restitution  of  Astoria  in  1818  was  accompanied  by 
express  reservations  of  the  right  of  Great  Britain  to  the  territory 
on  which  that  settlement  was  declared  to  be  an  encroachment  :| 

That  the  titles  to  the  territories  in  question,  derived  by  tlie 
United  States  from  Spain,  through  the  Florida  Treaty,  amounted 
to  nothing  more  than  the  rights  secured  to  Spain  equally  with 
Great  Britain,  by  the  convention||  of  1790,  namely,  to  settle  on 
any  part  of  those  countries,  to  navigiUo  and  fish  in  their  waters, 
and  to  trade  with  their  natives.  Whether  Louisiana  extended  to 
the  Pacific,  or  not,  was  of  no  consequence,  inasmuch  as  it  was  a 
Spanish  possession  in  1790;  and  if  a  portion  of  it  bordered  upon 
the  Pacific,  such  portion  was,  of  course,  included  in  the  stipula- 
tions of  the  convention  signed  in  that  year: 

That  the  charters  granted  by  British  Sovereigns  to  colonies  on 
the  Atlantic  coasts,  were  nothing  more  than  cessions  to  the  gran- 
tees, of  whatever  rights  the  grantor  might  consider  himself  to 
possess,  and  could  not  be  regarded  as  binding  on  the  subjects  of 
any  other  nation,  or  as  part  of  the  law  of  nations,  until  they  had 
been  confirmed  by  treaties  ;  had  the  Government  of  the  United 
States  thought  fit,  in  1790,  to  grant  ])y  charter  to  Mr.  Gray  the 
whole  territory  bordering  upon  the  Columbia,  such  charter  would 
have  been  valid  against  all  other  citizens  of  the  United  States; 
but  it  would  not  have  been  recognised  either  by  Great  Britain  or 
by  Spain,  as  those  Powers  were  in  that  year  preparing  to  contest 
by  arms  the  possession  of  the  very  territory  which  would  have 
formed  the  subject  of  the  grant.  [With  regard  to  these  latter 
assertions,  whatever  may  have  been  the  ideas  of  British  Sover- 
eigns as  to  the  extent  of  their  riglits  in  North  America,  certain 

•  The  entire  groundlessness  of  these  assertioi>s  maybe  seen  by  reference  topaijes 
93  ami  1J8. 

t  At  pn?e  ir>3,  explanations  are  ^fiven  with  regard  to  the  just  value  of  the  w...'s 
here  quoted  from  the  statement  of  the  British  plenipotentiaries. 

t  See  page  165. 

I  For  a  review  of  the  convention  of  1790,  and  inquiries  a.s  to  its  bearing  upon  this 
question,  see  page  171. 


en  to  colonies 
;.  How  much 
0  by  a  nation 
the  continent, 
)  extend  to  the 

id,  endeavored 

who  had  only 
rs  previous  by 

try  of  the  Col- 
by the  United 
m  to  that  teni- 
and  subscifvcnt 
means  of  their 
r  posts  on  tlie 

ccompanied  by 

to  the  territory 

incroachnienf.J 

derived  by  the 

eaty,  amounted 

in  equally  with 

ely,  to  settle  on 

in  their  waters, 

ana  extended  to 

mch  as  it  was  a 

t  bordered  upon 

d  in  the  stipula- 

is  to  colonies  on 
ions  to  the  grau- 
sider  himself  to 
II  the  subjects  of 
5,  until  they  had 
nt  of  the  United 
to  Mr.  Gray  the 
:h  charter  wotdd 
3  United  States  -, 
Great  Britain  or 
paring  to  contest 
lich  would  have 
i  to  these  latter 
)f  British  Sover- 
America,  certain 

by  reference  to  pages 

St  valne  of  the  Wc.  's 


its  bearing  upon  this 


187 

it  is,  that  the  charters  granted  Ay  them,  to  colonies  on  the  Atlantic 
coast  were  considered  by  the  British  Government  as  valid,  and 
were  enforced  arrainst  the  subjects  of  other  nations,  on  various 
occasions,  between  1606  and  1763.  In  proof  of  this,  may  be 
cited  the  charters  granted  to  the  Virginia  Company  by  King  James 
I,  in  1609  and  1611;  m  virtue  of  which,  the  Dutch  settlements 
on  the  Hudson,  in  a  country  first  discovered,  explored,  and  set- 
tled under  the  flag  of  the  United  Provinces,  were,  in  1664,  during 
a  period  of  profound  peace  between  the  two  nations,  seized  by 
British  forces,  as  being  included  within  the  territories  granted  to 
the  Virginia  Company.  In  like  manner,  the  settlements  made 
by  British  subjects,  under  a  British  charter,  on  the  Ohio,  in  a 
country  first  discovered,  explored,  and  occupied  by  the  French, 
were  sustained  by  the  British  Government ;  and  the  disputes  on 
account  of  those  settlements  are  well  known  to  have  been  among 
the  principal  causes  of  the  war  of  17.55  between  those  Powers. 
These  facts  are  here  cited,  not  in  vindication  of  the  justice  of  such 
charters,  but  merely  in  order  to  show  in  what  light  they  have 
been  hitherto  really  regarded  by  the  British  Government.  In 
this,  as  in  all  the  other  points  of  the  controversy,  it  will  be  seen 
that  the  arguments  of  the  commissioners  were  founded  upon  the 
views  of  natural  riglit,  or  of  the  principles  of  international  law, 
which  their  Go  vertunent  chose  to  adopt  and  recognise  at  the  mo- 
ment, without  reference  to  precedent.] 

Messrs.  Huskisson  and  Addington,  in  conclusion,  presented 
the  following  summary  of  the  pretensions  of  their  Government, 
which  may  be  considered  as  definitively  indicating  its  views  and 
proposed  course  witli  regard  to  Northwest  America : 

"Great  Britain  claims  no  exclusive  sovereignty  over  any  por- 
tion of  the  territory  on  the  Pacific  between  the  42d  and  the  49th 
parallels  of  latitude ;  her  present  claim,  not  in  respect  to  any  part, 
but  to  the  whole,  is  limited  to  a  right  of  joint  occupancy  in  com- 
mon with  other  states,  leaving  the  right  of  exclusive  dominion  in 
abeyance ;  and  her  pretensions  tend  to  the  mere  maintenance  of 
her  own  rights,  in  resistance  to  the  exclusive  character  of  the 
pretensions  of  the  United  States. 

"  The  rights  of  Great  Britain  are  recorded  and  defined  in  the 
convention  of  1790;  they  embrace  the  right  to  navigate  the  waters 
of  those  countries,  to  settle  in  and  over  any  part  of  them,  and  to 
trade  with  the  inhabitants  and  occupiers  of  the  same.  These 
rights  have  been  peaceably  exercised  ever  since  the  date  of  that 
convention ;  that  is,  for  a  period  of  nearly  forty  years.  Under 
that  convention,  valuable  British  interests  have  grown  up  in 
those  countries.  It  is  admitted  that  the  United  States  possess 
the  same  rights,  although  they  have  been  exercised  by  them  only 
in  a  single  instance,  and  have  not,  since  the  year  1813,  been  ex- 
ercised at  all ;  but  beyond  those  rights,  they  possess  none. 

"  In  the  interior  of  the  territory  in  question,  the  subjects  of 
Great  Britain  have  had  for  many  years  numerous  settlements  and 
trading-posts ;  several  of  these  posts  ore  on  the  tributary  streams 
of  the  Columbia;  several  upon  the  Columbia  itself;  some  to  the 
northward,  and  others  to  the  southward  of  that  river.    And  they 


1827. 


^'1 


188 


their  produce 
sliipiuoiit  of  it 


Wii.    naviyntc  the  Cohimbia  as  the  sole  channel  for  the  conveyance  of 

the  Kritish  stations  nearest  the  sea,  and  for  the 
oiu  thence  to  Great  Britain  ;  it  is  also  by  the  (Jo- 
liiiubia  and  its  tributary  streams  that  these  p(^)sts  and  settlements 
received  their  annual  supplies  from  (jreat  Britain. 

'•  To  the  interests  and  establishments  which  British  industry 
and  enterprise  have  created,  Great  Britain  owes  protection  ;  that 
protection  will  be  given,  both  as  rei,'ards  settlement,  and  freedom 
of  trade  and  navigation,  with  every  attention  not  to  infringe  the 
co-ordinate  rights  of  the  United  Slates;  it  being  the  desire  of  the 
British  Government,  .s'«  /onif  oft  the  Joint  urrupancy  rontiimi's,  to 
regulate  its  own  obligations  by  the  same  rules  Avhich  govern  the 
obligations  of  every  other  occuj)ying  party." 

These  concluding  declarations  of  the  British  conmiissioners 
are  sutliciently  explicit.  When  taken  in  connexion  with  the 
reasonings  which  precede  them,  they  show  clearly  that  all  farther 
attempts  on  the  part  of  the  United  States  to  establish  the  justice 
of  their  claims  by  negotiation  with  Great  Britain  should  be  de- 
ferred until  the  two  parties  are  more  nearly  ecjual  as  regards  the 
power  of  enf(»rcing  tlieir  resi)ective  determinations. 

The  new  convention  was  submitted  by  President  Adams  to 
the  Senate  of  the  United  States  in  the  winter  of  18:^7,  and,  hav- 
ing been  approved,  was  iimnediately  ratified ;  since  which,  no 
communication  whatsoever,  on  subjects  connected  with  the 
n.^rlhwest  coasts  of  Ameri(;a,  has  passed  between  the  Govern- 
moMt  of  the  Re|niblic  and  that  of  Great  Britain. 

'■'■♦'^  The  documents  relative  to  the  negotiation  Avere  laid  befiirc  the 
House  of  H(>])resentatives  at  Washington  in  tlie  spring  of  Ib'^iH, 
and  were  published  by  its  order.  In  the  ensuing  session  the  sub- 
ject of  the  occupation  of  the  mouth  of  the  Colutnbia  was  again 
brought  before  that  House,  and,  after  a  long  series  of  debates, 
a  bill  was  reported,  authorizing  the  President  to  erect  forts  be- 
yond tlie  Rocky  Mountains,  and  to  cause  those  territories  to  be 
explored  ;  and  providing  for  the  punishment  of  offences  commit- 
ted there  by  American  citizens.  This  bill  was  rejected  on  the 
iilJd  of  December.  In  Jainiary,  1831,  President  Jackson,  in  re- 
ply to  a  call  for  information,  sent  to  the  Senate  a  report  from  the 
Secretary  of  War,  relative  to  the  Jiritisli  fstablis/mients  on  thv  Co- 
lumOifi,  and  tlie  state  of  the  fur  Iradc^  containing  several  interest- 
ing connnunications  from  persons  engaged  in  that  business,  or 
acquainted  with  it;  but  no  action  was  taken  on  the  subject,  and 
very  little  attention  was  given  in  either  House  to  matters  con- 
cerning the  countries  in  question  uinil  1838. 

1  :;;.t.  Before  that  year,  the  Government  of  the  United  States  had 
been  engaged  in  another  discussion  with  that  of  Russia,  respect- 
ing the  northwest  coasts.  It  will  be  remembered,  that  by  the 
convention  of  1824  it  was  miderstood  that,  during  a  term  of  ten 
years,  coimting  from  the  signature  of  the  convention,  the  ships 
of  both  J'owers,  or  which  belong  to  their  citizens  or  subjects,  re- 
spectively, might  reciprocally  frequent,  without  any  hindrance 
whatever,  the  interior  seas,  gulfs,  harbors,  and  creeks,  upon  the 
coast  mentioned  in  the  preceding  article,  for  the  purpose  of  fish- 


1  -I ».). 

J.ri.  7. 


1S9 


Kmvcyance  of 
a,  and  for  the 
so  by  the  (Jo- 
el settlements 

itish  industry 
Dtection  ;  that 
,  and  freedom 

0  infringe  the 
u  desire  of  the 

1  (witiiiuetf,  to 
ch  govern  the 

;onniiissioners 
xion  with  tlie 
tliat  all  farther 
ish  tlie  justice 
should  be  de- 
as  regards  the 

ent  Adams  to 
827,  and,  hav- 
icc  which,  no 
Ued  with  the 
n  the  Govern- 

laid  bel(>re  the 
spring  of  lb"i8, 
ession  the  suh- 
ibia  was  again 
ies  of  debates, 
erect  forts  be- 
erritories  to  be 
fences  commit- 
rejected  on  tiie 
Jackson,  in  re- 
report  from  the 
'tuts  on  t/tv  Co- 
leveral  interest- 
at  business,  or 
he  subject,  and 
o  mutters  con- 
ted  States  had 
llussia,  respect- 
ed, that  by  the 
g  a  term  of  ten 
iition,  the  ships 
or  subjects,  re- 
any  hindrance 
reeks,  upon  the 
purpose  of  fish - 


IKJT 
Nov  :? 


ing  and  trading  with  the  natives  of  the  country.  The  period  1834. 
during  which  this  right  was  to  he  exercised  by  both  parties  ex- 
pired in  Afjril,  1834,  and  innnediately  afterwards  two  Anunican 
vessels  were  ordered  by  Haron  VVrangel,  the  governor  of  the  Rus- 
sian settlements  in  America,  to  cease  their  trade  on  the  coasts 
north  of  the  parallel  of  54  degrees  40  minutes.  The  Russian 
minister  at  Washington,  about  the  same  time,  gave  notice  of  the 
expiration  of  this  agreement  to  Mr.  Forsyth,  the  Secretary  of 
State  of  the  United  States,*  suggesting  to  him,  also,  the  propriety 
of  conmiunicating  the  fact  otKcially  to  the  citizens  of  the  Re- 
public. Mr.  Forsyth,  in  his  answer,  expressed  a  wish  to  know 
whether  a  proposition  for  the  continuance  of  the  arrangement 
would  be  favorably  received  at  Saint  Petersburgh;  and  the  Rus- 
siati  minister  being  unable  to  answer  the  question,  the  represent- 
ative of  the  United  States  near  the  Imperial  Government  was 
instructed  to  propose  formally  the  renewal  of  the  stipulations  for 
an  indefinite  period.  In  the  mean  time,  however,  a  notice  of  the 
expiration  of  the  agreement,  and  of  the  order  given  by  Haron 
VVrangel,  was  ])ublished  in  the  newspapers  of  the  United  States. f 
The  reasoning  of  Mr.  Forsyth  on  tliis  question,  as  presented 
in  his  letter  of  instruction  to  Mr.  Dallas,  the  envoy  of  the  United 
States  at  Saint  Petersburgh,  can  scarcely  be  abridged  M'ithout 
materially  impairing  its  strength.  Mr.  Forsyth,  after  repeating 
the  cardinal  rule  as  to  the  construction  of  instruments  of  every 
kind,  namely — tlitit  thcij  shmthl  he  so  rotistruff/,  if  possih/c,  fis  that 
eririj  part  iimy  stand — maintains  that  the  fourdi  article  of  the 
convention  cannot  "  be  understood  as  implying  an  acknowledg- 
ment on  the  part  of  tlie  United  States  of  the  right  of  Russia  to 
the  possfssion  of  the  coast  above  the  latitude  of  54  degrees  40 
miruUes  north  ;  but  that  it  should  be  taken  in  connexion  with 
the  other  articles,  which  have,  in  fact,  no  reference  whatever  to 
the  question  of  the  right  of  ])ossession  of  the  imoccupied  parts  of 
the  coast.  In  a  spirit  of  compromise,  and  to  prevent  future  col- 
lisions or  dirticullies,  it  was  agreed  that  no  new  establishments 
should  be  formed  by  the  respective  parties,  north  or  south  of  a 
certain  parallel  of  latitude,  after  the  conclusion  of  the  agreement; 
but  the  question  of  the  ri<>/i(  of  jiosscssion  beyond  the  existing 
establishments,  as  it  subsisted  previous  to,  or  at  the  time  of,  the 
conclusion  of  the  convention,  was  left  untouched.  The  l/nited 
States,  in  agreeing  not  to  limn  new  establishments  north  of  the 
latitude  of  54  degrees  and  40  minutes,  made  no  acknowledgment 
of  the  right  of  Russia  to  the  possession  of  the  territory  above  that 
line.  If  such  admission  had  been  made,  Russia,  by  the  same 
construction  of  the  article  referred  to,  nuist  have  acknowledged 
the  right  of  the  United  States  to  the  territory  south  of  the  line. 
But  that  llussia  did  not  so  understand  the  article,  is  conclusively 
proved  by  her  having  entered  into  a  similar  agreement  in  a  sub- 
sequent treaty  (1825)  with  Great  Britain,  and  having,  in  fact, 


♦  Messajre  of  President  Van  Bureii  of  December  4,  1838,  and  the  accompanying 
docuinenl  No.  2. 
t  See  the  Washington  Globe  of  July  22,  1835. 


.\  I 


190 


1637. 
Not.  3. 


^^v 


acknowledged  in  that  instrument  the  right  of  possession  of  the 
same  territory  by  Great  Britain.  The  United  States  can  only  be 
considered  as  acknowledging  the  right  of  Russia  to  acquire,  by 
actual  occupation,  a  just  claim  to  unoccupied  lands  above  the 
latitude  of  54  degrees  40  minutes  north ;  and  even  this  is  a  mere 
matter  of  interence,  as  the  convention  of  1824  contains  nothing 
more  than  a  negation  of  the  right  of  the  United  States  to  occupy 
new  points  within  that  limit.  i\dmitting  that  this  inference  was 
in  contemplation  of  the  parties  to  the  convention,  it  cannot  follow 
that  the  United  States  ever  intended  to  abandon  the  just  right, 
acknowledged  by  the  first  article  to  belong  to  them,  under  the 
law  of  nations ;  that  is — to  frequent  any  part  of  the  unoccupied 
coast  of  North  America,  for  the  purpose  of  fishing  or  trading  with 
tfie  natives.  All  that  the  convention  admits  is,  an  inference  of 
the  right  of  Russia  to  acquire  possession  by  settlement  north  of 
54  degrees  and  4U  minutes  north ;  and  until  that  possession  is 
taken,  the  first  article  of  the  convention  acknowledges  tlie  right 
of  the  United  States  to  fish  and  trade,  as  prior  to  its  negotiation." 

These  arguments,  the  conclusiveness  of  which  appears  to  be 
unquestionable,  the  Russian  Cliancellor  of  State,  Count  Nessel- 
rode,  did  not  attempt  to  controvert.  He  contented  himself  sim- 
ply with  declining,  in  behalf  of  his  Government,  the  proposition 
for  the  renewal  of  the  engagements  contained  in  the  fourth  article 
of  the  convention ;  and  thus  the  matter  rests.  American  vessels 
are  prohibited  from  frequenting  a  large  portion  of  the  unoccupied 
west  coasts  of  the  continent,  north  of  the  latitude  of  54  degrees 
and  40  minutes ;  and  the  trade  of  the  United  States  in  the  north 
Pacific  has  been  doubtless  somewhat  diminished  in  consequence. 

The  Russians  have,  in  like  manner,  refused  to  renew  the  stip- 
ulations of  the  same  nature  contained  in  the  fifth  article  of  the 
treaty  of  1825  between  their  Government  and  that  of  Great  Brit- 
ain, and  have,  moreover,  directly  opposed  the  enforceme.v  of  the 
right,  secured  to  the  latter  Power,  by  another  article  of  that  treaty, 
to  navigate  any  rivers  which  may  flow  from  the  interior  of  the  con- 
tinent to  the  ocean,  across  the  line  of  boundary  there  establish- 
ed. The  circumstances  as  related*  are  the  following:  In  1834, 
the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  fitted  out  an  expedition  for  the  pur- 
pose of  establishing  a  trading  post  on  the  Sti/dne,  a  river  lately 
discovered,  entering  the  ocean  in  latitude  of  56  degrees  50  min- 
utes, which  IS  said  to  be  three  miles  broad  at  its  mouth,  and  a 
mile  broad  at  the  distance  of  thirty-five  miles  higher  up.  Baron 
Wrangel,  the  Governor  of  the  Russian-American  possessions,  hav- 
ing '  aen  informed  of  this  project,  erected  a  block-house  at  the 
mouth  of  the  river,  and  stationed  a  sloop  of  war  there ;  and  on 
the  appearance  of  the  vessel  bearing  the  men  and  materials  for 
the  contemplated  establishments,  the  British  were  informed  that 
they  would  not  be  allowed  to  pass.  All  appeals  to  the  treaty 
were  ineffectual;  and  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  were  foiled  in 
their  attempt,  after  having  spent,  as  is  asserted,  twenty  thousand 
pounds  in  preparations. 


♦  London  and  Westminster  Review  for  August,  1838. 


191 


»i 


ssession  of  the 

es  can  only  be 

to  acquire,  by 

tids  above  the 

this  is  a  mere 

itains  notliing 

.ates  to  occupy 

inference  was 

t  cannot  follow 

the  just  right, 

lem,  under  tiie 

he  unoccupied 

)r  trading  with 

m  inference  of 

ment  north  of 

;  possession  is 

dges  the  right 

s  negotiation." 

appears  to  be 

Count  Nessel- 

liimself  sim- 

[he  proposition 

e  fourth  article 

iierican  vessels 

he  unoccupied 

of  54  degrees 

3s  in  the  north 

1  consequence. 

enew  the  stip- 

i  article  of  the 

of  Great  Brit- 

rceme  \;  of  the 

!  of  that  treaty, 

riorof  thecon- 

lere  establish- 

^ing:  In  1834, 

in  for  the  pur- 

',  a  river  lately 

jgrees  50  min- 

niouth,  and  a 

er  up.     Baron 

ssessions,  hav- 

:-house  at  the 

there ;  and  on 

I  materials  for 

informed  that 

to  the  treaty 

were  foiled  in 

snty  thousand 


CIIAl'TEK   X. 

Arcminl  of  llie  Hudson's  Bay  Cornpnny's  psiabiishmcnts— Pur  trade  over  land  be- 
tween ilie  United  Unwc*  nnd  ihenmiliwisi  terriiorifs— The  Nitrih  Amerienn  and 
the  Rocky  Mountain  Fur  C<  nipanies — Kxpcdiiions  of  Wyeili  and  Bonneville— 
Emigraliun  from  the  Uniivd  iStnU'K  to  the  countries  of  the  Columbia — Conclusion. 

In  the  preceding  chapter,  it  was  shown  that  the  Northwest  and 
Huflsim\s  liaij  trading  companies  were,  in  1821, united;  or  rather, 
that  the  former  was  merged  in  the  latter,  which  afterwards,  in 
virtue  of  an  act  of  Parliament,  passed  in  the  same  year,  received 
frotn  the  British  crown  the  exclusive  privilege  of  trade  in  all  the 
territories  of  America  north  of  Canada  and  the  United  States,  not 
already  possessed  by  the  company,  as  well  as  in  those  west  of 
the  Rocky  Mountains,  so  far  as  the  claims  of  Great  Britain  ex- 
tended, agreeably  to  tlie  convention  of  1818  between  her  Gov- 
ernment and  that  of  the  United  States ;  that  the  jurisdiction  of 
the  courts  of  Upper  Canada  over  British  subjects  in  all  those  ter- 
ritories, was  established  by  the  abovementioned  act  of  Parlia- 
ment; and  that  the  stipulations  of  the  convention  of  1818,  by 
which  American  citizens  and  British  subjects  were,  during  ten 
years,  equally  entitled  to  trade  or  settle  in  any  country  west  of 
the  Rocky  Mountains,  claimed  by  either  party,  had  been  contin- 
ued in  f()rce  for  an  indefinite  period,  with  the  understanding  that 
they  might  be  abrogated  by  either  Government,  after  due  notice 
of  twelve  months  to  the  other. 

These  arrangements,  all  of  which  remain  at  present  in  vigor, 
have  proved  highly  advantageous  to  the  British  in  every  respect. 
The  northern  and  northwestern  regions  of  the  continent  liave 
been  explored  by  their  olFicers  and  men  of  science,  and  new 
means  of  commercial  intercourse  have  been  discovered,  of  which 
the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  Iiave  availed  themselves,  by  in- 
creasing their  establishments  and  extending  their  operations. 
That  company  is,  indeed,  a  powerful  body,  or  rather  a  great 
Power,  in  America.  Its  posts  may  be  found  occupying  all  the 
most  important  points  in  those  regions ;  its  boats  may  be  met  on 
every  stream,  conveying  British  manufactures  to  the  interior,  or 
furs  to  the  great  depositories  on  the  seaboard,  for  shipment  to 
England  in  British  vessels ;  and  the  Indians  are  everywhere  so 
tutored  and  managed  by  its  agents,  that  they  have  become  the 
willing  slaves  of  the  association,  and  are  ready  at  any  time  to 
strike  at  its  adversaries.  Yet  the  whole  number  of  persons  in  the 
service  of  the  company,  in  1834,  was,  according  to  Mr.  Mont- 
gomery Martin,*  less  than  one  thousand,  and  it  has  probably  not 
since  been  increased. 


1821 


'. 


1827 


m. 


History  of  the  British  Colonies,  vol.  iii,  page  533. 


193 


*S1 


ii<  j< 


IN38,  'I'll*.'  f'nnr««riis  of  ilu>  riiidsnii's  Hay  Company  aro  inaiiagtMl  hy 
n  i,'ovi!riior,  drimty  governor,  and  a  mnnriittce  <tf' directors,  esial)- 
UsIdmI  in  London,  hy  whom  all  orders  litr  the  re^idation  of  the 
business  are  devised  and  issued,  and  to  whom  all  the  reports  and 
ni't'oiints  are  transmitted.  The  trade  in  Ainericui  is  under  thu 
innniMliate  su|»erintenden('e  of  a  resident  governor;  the  inli'rior 
ollicers  arc!  agents,  factors,  traders,  and  clerks,  some  of  whom 
linvo  a  direct  int(!rest  or  share  in  the  business;  the  others  being 
ouii^aged  at  small  salaries,  with  the  |)romise  of  a  |)ension  for  lilo 
after  a  <'ertain  period  of  service.  The  ^'rcater  part  of  thi's(!  ollicos 
are  i,'(!nerally  filled  hy  natives  ofCJreat  Mritain  •,  the  hunters,  trap- 
pers, voyai,'eurs,  t.\:c.,are  mostly  French  (.'anadians,  Indians,  or 
nalf-hreeds,  who  receive  little  or  nothing  besides  thcur  clothing, 
and  tin;  scanty  allowance  of  miserable  food  upon  which  they  sub- 
sist. The  strictest  disci[)line  and  subordination  are  everywhere 
observed;  and  attention  to  the  interests  of  the  company  is  in- 
sured, by  the  prospects  held  out  of  advancement  in  th(!  service, 
or  of  maintenance  in  old  age. 

Two  settlements,  intended  partly  for  the  reception  and  support 
of  retiring  servants  of  the  company,  havr  been  established  in  its 
coinitries:  one  on  the  Red  Kiver,  near  the  boundary  of  the  I'nited 
States,  the  only  hmd  north  of  that  line  which  appears  to  olferany 
induc(>meiits  (I)r  cultivation;  ami  the  other  in  tlie  delightful  val- 
ley of  the  Wallamet,  south  of  the  lower  (.'olumbia.  The;  inhabit- 
ants of  these  colonies  are  kept  in  a  state  of  absolute  dependence 
upon  the  company;  from  it  alone  they  can  receive  their  supplies 


of 


to  reign 


necessaries;  it  retains  the  right  of  the  soil,  and  can, 


m(»rcover,  oblige  them  at  a  moment's  warning  to  (piit  its  territo- 
ries. That  the  settlements  should  languish  under  such  circum- 
stances, and  that  the  able-bodied  men  should  desert  from  the  Hed 
River  into  the  United  States,  as  they  fre(|uently  do,  is  not  sur- 
prising. 

The  furs  and  skins,  which  form  nearly  the  sole  returns  of  the 
trade,  are  procured  juincipally  from  the  Indians,  in  exchange;  for 
coarse  manufactured  goods,  imported  from  (Jreat  IJritain  free  ot 
duty  into  the  company's  territories;  althougli  servants  of  the  asso- 
ciation are  also  emi>loyed  in  traj)piiig  and  hunting,  at  particular 
seasons.  It  is  asserted  on  the  [v.irt  of  the  company,  that  ardent 
spirits  are  never  bartered  for  furs,  and  that  the  average  quantity 
introduced  into  the  covuitry  has  not,  for  many  years  past,  ex- 
ceeded a  gill  per  annum  for  each  person  in  it.  There  is  no  cause 
to  doubt  the  sincerity  of  the  statinnent,  especially  as  it  is  the  in- 
terest of  the  traders  to  keep  the  Indians  sober,  industrious,  and 
free  from  vices  ;  though  other  accounts  appear  to  show  that  the 
quantity  of  liquors  introduced  is  much  greater,  and  that  they  arc 
often  given  to  the  natives  for  furs — probably  without  the  knowl- 
edge of  the  company's  agents. 

The  territories  of  the  company  are  divided  into  districts  or  de- 
partments, each  under  the  charge  of  an  agent,  who  distributes  to 
the  traders  the  goods  received  from  I'iUgland,  and  sends  to  their 
proper  destination  the  furs  collected  in  return  ;  the  transportation 
being  performed  alternately  in  boats  and  by  portage,  for  which 


J  93 


ill 


>  IlKiliti^'i'd  liy 
vr'tors,  t'sfah- 
ilatiori  of  tlio 
w  ic|)nris  iiiid 
is  niidt'r  the 
;  tlui  iiiDM'ior 
iiH!  of  wImmii 
!  olIuM's  being 
!ii.si()ii  lor  lit(! 
ftlK;s(!  olliros 
Mirifcrs,  triip- 
s,  liidiaiis,  or 
irir  clnthiiig, 
licli  llicy  siib- 
c  everywhere 
)iiipaiiy  is  iii- 
11  th<!  servire, 

II  niul  support 
ihlisheil  ill  its 

ol'thel'iiited 
rs  to  ollrr  any 
'elii,ditl\il  val- 

TIk!  iiihahit- 
e  depeii(h'lice 
their  supplies 
soil,  and  eaii, 
uit  its  lerrito- 

sudi  eircuin- 

iVoiii  the  Red 
o,  is  not  sur- 

rc'Hirns  of  tho 
exehanye  for 
Jritain  I'reo  ot 
ts  of  the  asso- 
[,  at  particular 
y,  that  ardent 
trago  quantity 
pars  past,  ex- 
ro  is  no  cause 
is  it  is  the  iii- 
lustrious,  and 
show  that  the 
that  they  arc 
lit  the  knovvl- 

istricts  or  de- 
distributes  to 
sends  to  their 
transportation 
Lje,  for  which 


purpose  the  articles  are  packed  in  bundles  of  such  a  size  as  to  bo 
easily  carritid  by  one  man.  'J'he  furs  are  sent  to  three  ^leat  de- 
|)osiiories  on  the  seaboard,  from  wbii'h  are  also  brought  the  ^oods 
lor  trad«!.  These  are  IMniitrcfi/,  on  the  Saint  liawrence,  Vurk 
Fartnrifyitn  Hudson's  Hay,  and  l'\)it  \'itnnninr,o\i  the  (.'oliim- 
bia ;  each  of  which  is  the  capital  or  heart  of  a  certain  number  of 
districts.  Nearly  all  llu'  articles  goinj^  to  or  coinini,' from  Mon- 
treal, piss  through  IWl  ]Vi//i(iffi,  one  of  the  principal  factoritis  of 
tlu^  company,  situated  a  few  u\\\v>i  northwest  of  liake  Superior. 
Th(!  furs  and  skins  from  Fort  Vuih  -iiver  are  all  sent  directly  to 
London,  by  ships  whii^h  arrive  atiin  illy,  brin^'in^'  articles  for  the 
trade.  The  company,  moreov<'r,  t  .iiploys  several  small  vessels 
on  the  tiorthwest  coasts,  and  a  sti'amboaf,  which  latter  is  priniu- 
pally  used  in  the  Strait  of  l''uca,  and  the  other  channels  among 
the  Islands  of  the  northwest  Archi|M!lago. 

'I'hi!  average  annual  value  of  the  peltries  expoiUJil  from  Anu.'r- 
ica  by  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,*  betwi'L  <  lH'<i7  aiifl  ls;{3, 
amounted,  according  to  McCJregor,  to  two  hundreu  and  ten  tho.is- 
and  pounds  sterling,  (^about  one  million  of  dollars,)  of  which,  pro- 
bably one-sixth  part  was  received  from  the  territori(\s  west  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains.  Mr.  VVyelli  estimates  the  amount  of  the  furs 
derived  from  those  territiuies  by  the  company  in  1S.*}(»,  at  one  hun- 
dred and  thirty-eight  thousand  dollars,  liondon  price;  for  which 
are  giviMi,  about  twenty  thousand  dollars  worth  (prime  cost)  of 
goods ;  the  services  of  three  hundred  and  fifty  men,  employed  in 
various  parts  of  the  business;  shipping  to  bring  supplies,  and 
take  hack  returns;  and  two  years' interest  on  the  investments. 
He  had,  moreover,  "good  evidence  that,  in  1S32,  the  profits  of 


•  The  liiliowinfj  list  a(  ihe  Hudson's  Buy  Company's  pstahli.sliinenis  west  of  ihe 
Rocky  Moiiiitiiins  is  i'xira(ie(Hriiin  an  ailicle  in  ihf  L'lndon  antl  VViisiniinsler  Re- 
view r.H  Auj,'iist,  |hHH;  wriiifii  liy  some  person  connecied  willi  ihal  associaiion,  and 
niinii'i  ly  uc(|iiainie(l  wiili  i'--  :illair>: 

" 'I'lic  piinciiuil  fsiahjishriicni  oC  the  Hudson's  Bay  Compniiy  on  the  norihwest 
coasi  ..>  h'nii  Vancouver,  .suiiaitd  on  llif  north  Imnk  of  llie  Columbia  llivur,  alioul 
sevi'iiiy  mill's  Iroin  the  oi'i'aii,  in  iaiiiuiti'  155  ilf^'iei-s,  loiiKiiude  I'i'J  dcprct's  .30 
miniiics.  li  was  forincd  hy  Governor  Simpson  in  IH-Jl,  and  named  alier  the  di^iin- 
guishr-d  u^iv  ii:^iih)r  w/io  first  (I  isriitrnd  and  anrvii/ni  the  Columbia.  [!J  They  have 
lik('A'i>e  a  post  on  ihe.soiiili  side,  ai  ihe  uKiiuh  ol  ihe  river,  iiumcd  t''orl  George,  for- 
merlv  Asona.  'I'hev  have,  moreover,  Ihe  post  id'  Nas(|ii;illy,  in  Put;ei's  Soiini}, 
latiiiide  ITdeirrees;  the  pnsi  of  Fori  Laiigly,ni  ihe  niiilei  of  Fra/er's  Kiver,  Intimde 
4'.(  decrees 'Jf)  miiiuies;  ihe  post  (d  Fort  MeLoiiuhlm,  in  Mill  Bank  Sound,  latitude 
5;.'  lit  giees;  ihe  posi  ol'  Foil  Simpson,  on  l)uiid:is  island,  laliiude  51j  degree.i;  and 
were  fored)ly  prevenied  hvUie  Russians,  in  IHIM,  from  esiablishiiii,'  a  post  on  the 
Stikiiie  River,  laiiiiide  MiJ  degrees  west,  longiiude  IHl  degrees  10  minutes.  Inland, 
on  the  west  sicie  ihe  moiininiiis,  ihey  have  lifieen  establishments,  viz:  Fra/er's  Lake, 
McLeod's  Lake,  Fort  Geoige,  Alexandria-Chileoiins,  I'.abine,  ami  Bear's  Lake,  in 
New  Caledonia;  the  poM  of 'rhomnsun's  River,  falling  inio  Frazer's  River;  the 
posi>nf  Ne/  Perces,  Cicami^nn,  and  Colvijle,  on  ihe  Colnmba;  the  Flathead  and 
koolania  |)osls,  between  the  iioiih  and  smih  branflie-  id"  liie  Columbia  river,  near 
the  ■MKiiMi.iiiis;  the  posi  of  Foil  ("lall,  on  the  soiiiliern  branrh  of  the  Cidunibia;  and 
the  UiiHi'ia  Posi,  on  ihe  rivv-r  id' I  lie  si  me  i,iiiiie,  lali'ii  le  t.'l  degrees  30  ininuies,  lon- 
gitude i'Jt  degrees,  soiiih  of  the  Columbia  River.  Tliey  have,  luriher,  two  migra- 
tory ti^tding  and  trappiii ;  <  xpediiinn-,  ol  nboiii  fifiy  men  each — ihe  one  hunting  in 
the  country  situated  between  the  (."oluinlua  and  liie  Bay  of  San  Francisco,  towards 
the  coast;  and  the  other  in  the  inieiiorcuuntry  bf  iween  the  Columbia  and  the  head- 
waters of  the  rivers  falliiig  into  the  Bay  if  San  Franciseo.  They  likewise  have  a 
steam-vessel  and  five  sailinjj-vessel.s,  of  fruu  one  hundred  to  three  hundred  tons 
burden,  all  armed." 


Ifklti. 


I* 


'hi 


194 

1838.  the  whole  western  department  (inchidiiig  the  Columbia  conn- 
tries)  did  not  exceed  ten  thousand  dollars."  The  shares  of  the 
company  are  at  this  time  worth  more  than  double  their  original 
value,  which  was  one  hundred  pounds  each.  In  the  most  recent 
London  tables  of  prices,  the  last  annual  dividend  on  each  share 
is  stated  at  ten  pounds.* 

In  the  mean  time,  the  regions  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains 
have  not  been  neglected  by  the  people  of  the  United  States.  For 
some  years  after  the  destruction  of  the  Pacific  Fur  Company,  no 
American  citizens  were  to  be  seen  in  those  countries.  The  North 
Aiiicricnn  Companij,  of  which  Mr.  Astor  was  also  the  head,  con- 
fined its  operations  to  the  vicinity  of  the  Great  Lakes,  the  head- 
waters of  the  Mississippi,  and  the  lower  part  of  the  Missouri ; 
sometimes  extending  them  farther  up  the  latter  river,  and  on  the 
Yellow  Stone,  particularly  after  its  union  with  another  company, 
organized  in  1822,  under  the  name  of  the  Columbia  Pur  Com- 
panif.  In  1823,  Mr.  W.  H.  Ashley,  of  Saint  Louis,  who  had  pre- 
viously established  a  trading-post  on  the  Yellow  Stone,  fitted  out 
an  expedition  for  the  country  beyond  the  Rocky  Mountains;  and 
having  crossed  the  chain  between  the  so^^rces  of  the  Platte  and 
the  Colorado,  near  the  42d  degree  of  latitude,  he  obtained  a  large 
supply  of  furs,  which  were  transported  to  Saint  Louis.  About  a 
hundred  men  were  in  the  followuig  year  left  by  him  in  that  coun- 
try, to  hunt  and  trap;  and  although  they  had  to  contend  against 
the  people  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  who  opposed  them  in 
every  way,  the  value  of  the  furs  collected  by  them  in  three  years 
amounted  to  one  hundred  and  eighty  thousand  dollars. 

1827.  In  the  first  expeditions  from  Saint  Louis,  the  goods  were  trans- 
ported on  pack-horses.  In  1827,  Mr.  Ashley  sent  sixty  men, 
with  a  piece  of  cannon  drawn  by  mules,  who  marched  to  the 
great  Salt  Lake,  called  Lake  Youta,  beyond  the  mountains;  and 
after  remaining  in  that  country  a  sufficient  length  of  time  to  col- 
lect the  furs  and  distribute  the  supplies  among  the  hunters, 


;i   'I 


♦  The  following  table  of  the  number  and  value  of  furs  and  peltri*!*  exported  in 
1831,  from  the  pans  of  America  owned  or  occupied  by  the  British,  is  given  in  Mc- 
Cuiloch's  Dictionary  of  Commerce,  as  extracted  from  the  work  of  Bliss,  on  the 
Trade  and  Industry  of  British  America : 

Skin.  No.  £   s.    d.  £        s.  d. 

Beaver  .... 

Muskrat  .... 

Lynx  .... 

Wolf  .... 

Bear  .... 

Fox  .... 

Mink  .... 

Racoon  .... 

Tails  .... 

Wolverine  ... 

Deer  .... 

Weasel  .... 


The  other  articles  exported  by  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  from  America,  are 
ising'ass,  sea-horsf  teeth,  feathers,  goo^e  and  swan  quills,  whalebone,  and  od;  the 
value  of  all  which  is  trifling. 


I2fi,!>44  each 

1 

5 

n 

158,«W0    0 

0 

375,751    " 

0 

0 

6 

9,393    5 

6 

5«,010    " 

0 

8 

0 

23,2(14    0 

0 

5,047    « 

0 

8 

0 

2,37H  1« 

0 

3,85t>    " 

1 

0 

0 

3,850    0 

0 

8,765    " 

0 

10 

0 

4,38J  10 

0 

9,!W8    " 

0 

•2 

0 

929  t(> 

0 

3J5    " 

0 

1 

6 

24    7 

6 

2,2!»0    " 

0 

1 

0 

114  10 

0 

1,744    •' 

n 

3 

0 

2(;i  12 

0 

(i45    " 

0 

3 

{) 

9ti  15 

0 

34    " 

0 

0 

6 

0  17 

0 

£203,316    9 

0 

195 


il: 


lumbia  conn- 
shares  of  the 
their  orighial 
ic  most  recent 
on  each  share 

ky  Mountains 
d  States.  For 
Company,  no 
i.  The  North 
the  head,  con- 
kes,  the  head- 
the  Missouri; 
er,  and  on  the 
ther  company, 
bia  Mir  Com- 
who  had  pre- 
tone,  fitted  out 
ountains;  and 
the  Platte  and 
)tained  a  large 
)uis.  About  a 
1  in  that  coun- 
3nteud  against 
posed  them  in 
in  three  years 
liars. 

ids  were  trans- 
nt  sixty  men, 
larched  to  the 
ountains;  and 
of  time  to  col- 
f  the  hunters, 

eltries  exported  in 
sh,  is  given  in  Mc- 
k  of  Bliss,  on  the 

I.  £       s.  d. 


15H,tW0 
9,3»3 

0 
5 

0 

23,2(14    0 
2,37H  It; 
3,a50    0 

4,;wj  10 
929  It; 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

•^4 

7 

6 

114 

10 

0 

2t;i 

12 

0 

9t; 

15 

0 

0 

17 

0 

£203,316 

9 

0 

from  America,  are 

ebone,  and  oi 

1;  the 

returned  to  Missouri,  having  been  absent  just  seven  months. 
Since  that  time,  wagons  have  been  generally  employed  for  car- 
rying the  articles  to  the  foot  of  the  mountains;  they  may,  indeed, 
cross  the  chain,  through  a  depression  called  the  f^oiit/ierti.  Pass, 
nearly  under  the  42d  parallel,  between  the  head- waters  of  the 
Platte  on  the  eastern  side,  and  those  of  the  Colorado  and  of  the 
Lewis,  the  principal  southern  branch  of  the  Columbia,  on  the 
west;  and  it  is  said  that,  recently,  a  light  carriage  has  been  driven 
from  Connecticut  to  the  Great  Falls  of  the  Columbia,  near  the 
Pacific. 

In  1826  Messrs.  Smith,  Jackson,  and  Sublette,  of  Saint  Louis, 
engaged  in  the  same  business,  and,  having  subsequently  pur- 
chased Mr.  Ashley's  establishments  and  interests,  they  carried  on 
a  regular  trade  with  the  countries  of  the  Columbia  and  the  Co- 
lorado, under  the  name  of  the  Rocky  Mou?itain  Fur  Compcmij.* 

The  active  proceedings  of  the  St.  Louis  traders  roused  the 

♦  The  followin?  apcount  of  the  first  expedition  with  wae:ons  to  the  Rcicky  Moun- 
tains made  in  1H29,  by  Messrs.  Smith,  Jackson,  and  Sublette,  is  extracted  fiom  a 
letter  addressed  tiy  those  gemlemcn  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  in  October,  Ih2'.(,  and 
published  with  President  Jackson's  message  to  the  House  of  IJcpresentaiives  of  Jan- 
uary 25,  1831.  It  will  serve  to  show  the  mode  and  the  route  generally  pursued  in 
these  expeditions  at  the  present  day: 

"  On  the  lOth  of  April  last,  (IS2!),)  we  sot  out  from  Saint  Louis,  with  eighty-one 
men,  al)  mounted  on  mules,  ten  wagons,  each  drawn  by  five  mules,  and  two  "dear- 
borns, (light  carriagis,  or  carts,)  each  drawn  by  one  mule.  Our  route  was  r)early 
due  west  lo  the  wesiern  limits  of  the  Slate  of  Missouri,  and  thence  along  ihe  Santa 
F€  trail,  about  forty  miles  from  which  the  course  was  some  degrees  north  of  west, 
acruss  the  waters  oithe  Kansas,  and  up  the  Great  Platte  river,  to  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains, and  10  the  head  of  Wind  River,  where  it  issues  from  the  mountains.  This 
took  us  until  the  KJth  ol' July,  and  was  as  lar  as  we  wished  the  wagons  to  go,  as  ilie 
furs  lo  be  brought  in  were  to  be  collected  at  this  place,  which  is,  or  was  tins  year, 
the  great  rendezvous  of  the  persons  engaged  in  that  business.  Here  the  wagons 
could  easily  have  rrossKJ  ihe  Rocky  Mountains,  it  being  what  is  called  the  Southern 
Pass,  had  it  been  desirable  lor  theni  to  do  so;  wliich  it  was  not,  for  the  reason  slated. 
For  our  suppoii,  al  leaving  the  Missouri  settlements,  until  we  siiould  get  into  ihe 
bulfalo  country,  we  drove  twelve  head  of  entile,  besides  a  milch  cow.  Eight  of  ihese 
only  being  required  for  use  before  we  got  to  the  buffaloes,  the  others  went  on  to  the 
head  of  Wind  River.  We  began  lo  tail  in  with  thf  buffaloes  on  the  Platte,  about 
three  hundred  and  filly  miles  from  the  white  settlemcnis;  and  from  thai  lime  lived 
on  buffaloes,  the  qimntiiy  being  infinitely  beyond  what  we  needed.  On  the  4ih  of 
August,  the  wagons  beiiig,  in  the  mean  timej  loaded  with  the  furs  which  had  been 
previously  taken,  we  set  nut  on  the  return  to  Saint  Louis.  All  the  high  points  of 
the  mountains  then  in  view  were  while  wiih  snow;  bill  the  pas.ses  and  valleys,  and 
all  the  level  country,  were  green  with  grass.  Our  route  back  was  over  the  same 
ground  nearlv  as  in  going  out,  and  we  arrived  at  Saint  Louis  on  the  10th  of  October, 
bringing  back  the  ten  wagons,  the  dearborns  being  left  behind ;  four  of  the  oxen  and 
the  milch  cow  were  also  brought  back  to  the  settlements  in  Missouri,  as  we  did  not 
need  them  for  provision.  Our  men  were  all  healthy  during  the  whole  time;  we  suf- 
fered nothing  by  the  Indians,  and  had  no  acridenl  but  the  denih  of  one  man,  being 
buri<-d  under  a  bank  of  earth  ihat  fell  in  upon  him,  and  another  being  crippled  at 
the  same  time.  Of  the  mules,  we  lost  but  one  by  fatigue,  and  two  horse>;  stolen  by 
the  Kan.sas  Indians;  the  grass  being,  along  the  whole  route,  going  and  coming,  suf- 
ficient for  the  support  of  the  ho'ses  and  mules.  The  usual  weight  in  the  wagons 
was  about  one  thousand  eight  hundred  pounds.  The  usual  progress  of  the  wagons 
was  from  fifteen  to  iweniy  five  miles  per  day.  The  country  being  almost  all  open, 
level,  and  praiie,  the  chief  ob.slructions  were  ravines  and  creeks,  the  banks  of  wnicn 
required  cutting  down;  and,  for  this  purpise,  a  few  pioneers  were  generallv  kept 
ahe  d  of  the  caavan.  This  is  the  first  time  that  wagons  ever  went  t)  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  arid  the  ease  and  safety  wiih  which  it  was  done  prove  the  fnciliiy  of 
communicating  over  land  with  the  Pacific  Ocean;  the  route  from  iheSnulhern  Pa.ss, 
where  the  wagons  slopped,  to  the  Great  Falls  of  the  Columbia,  being  ca-iier  and 
belter  than  on  ihis  side  of  the  mountains,  with  gross  enough  for  horses  and  mules, 
but  a  scarcity  of  game  for  the  support  of  mea." 


1827 


1826 


;'lt 


196 


II: 


"1! 


m 


II 


1632.  spirit  of  the  North  American  Fur  Company,  which  also  extended 
its  op(!rations  to  the  countries  beyond  the  Rocky  Mountains;  and 
several  independent  parties  of  adventurers  have,  from  time  to 
time,  made  expeditions  in  the  same  direction.  In  183*2  Captain 
Bonneville,  of  the  United  States  army,  wliile  on  a  furlough,  led  a 
band  of  more  than  a  hundred  men,  with  twenty  wagons  and 
many  mules  and  horses,  carrying  goods  from  Missouri  to  the 
Far  West ;  and  remained  with  them  two  years,  employed  in  tra- 
ding, hunting,  and  trapping,  chiefly  in  the  country  drained  by 
the  Lewis  and  its  branches.* 

About  the  same  time,  Mr.  Nathaniel  Wyeth,  of  Massachusetts, 
endeavored  to  establish  a  direct  trade  in  American  vessels,  be- 
tween the  ports  of  the  United  States  and  the  Columbia ;  from 
which  latter,  the  returns  were  to  be  made  in  salmon  and  furs. 
With  these  views,  he  led  two  expeditions  across  the  continent; 
and  having  also  sent  a  vessel  around  to  the  west  coast,  he  formed 
two  trading-stations — one  called  Fort  Hall,  near  the  junction  of 

1834.  the  rixer  Portiicuf  with  the  Lewis^  in  the  southeast  angle  of  Ore- 
gon ;  and  another  on  Wnppotoo  Island,  at  the  entrance  of  the  Wal- 
lamet  into  the  Columbia,  sixty  miles  from  the  Pacific.  He  was, 
however,  forced  to  abandon  his  attempts,  chiefly  in  consequence 
of  the  opposition  indirectly  exerted  by  the  Hudson's  Bay  Com- 
pany Captain  Wyeth 's  expeditions,  though  thus  unprofitable 
to  himself,  have  been  rendered  very  advantageius  to  his  country- 
men, by  means  of  the  information  which  he  has  atforded  respect- 
ing the  territories  of  the  Columbia.  His  short  memoir,  printed 
by  order  of  the  House  of  Representatives  at  Washington,  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1839,t  conveys  more  exact  and  useful  instruction  as  to 
the  climate,  soil,  configuration  of  the  surface,  and  agricultural 
and  commercial  capabilities  of  those  countries,  than  any  other 
work  yet  publislied. 

1838.  The  posts  of  the  Americans  west  of  the  Rooky  Mountains  are 
few,  and  those  are  on  a  very  limited  scale.  Nearly  all  their  furs 
are  procured  directly  by  themselves,  as  they  trade  but  little  with 
the  Indians,  whom  the  agents  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company 
take  care  to  keep  at  enmity  with  them.  The  hunters  and  trap- 
pers who  remain  constantly  in  that  country  are  about  three  or 
four  hundred  in  number,  nearly  all  of  them  white  men.  In  the 
summer  of  each  year  they  repair  (carrying  their  furs  on  pack- 
horses,  or  on  their  backs)  to  certain  places  of  rendezvous,  where 
they  meet  the  caravans  from  the  United  States ;  and  the  trade  is 
there  conducted  without  the  use  of  money,  each  article,  however, 
bearing  a  nominal  value,J  expressed  in  dollars  and  cents.     The 

•  The  adveriiures  of  this  officer  and  his  party  have  been  made  generally  known 
by  Mr.  Washington  Irving,  who  ha.s  compiled  from  (Jap;ain  Bonneville's  notes  a 
pleasant  narrative,  somewhat  in  the  vein  of  Fray  Antonio  Agapida's  Chroniile. 

t  Hepori  of  the  committee  of  the  House  of  Repieseniaiives  rtia  ive  lo  ihe  Oiewn 
Territory.  Mr.  Townsend.  a  naturalist  of  Phdadelphia,  who  accompanied  Cap  ain 
Wyeili  m  his  second  journey  across  the  continent,  has  published  a  Narrative  of  his 
Adventures.  Wyeth's  movements  are  also  related  incidentally  in  the  account  of 
Captain  Honneville's  expedition. 

t  These  nominal  values  are  curious.  We  find,  among  the  prices  current  on  the 
Colorado,  whiskey  quoted  at  three  dollars  a  pint;  tobacco  at  five  dollars  a  pound; 
gunpowder  at  six  dollars  a  pint;  dogt>  (for  eating)  at  fifteen  dollars  each,  &c. 


197 


also  extended 
lountains ;  and 
,  from  time  to 

1832  Captain 
furlough,  led  a 
y  wagons  and 
lissouri  to  the 
nployed  in  tra- 
try  drained  by 

Massachusetts, 
an  vessels,  be- 
nlunibia ;  from 
nion  and  furs, 
the  continent; 
last,  he  formed 
the  junction  of 
it  angle  of  Ore- 
ice  of  the  Wal- 
2ific.  He  was, 
in  consequence 
)n's  Bay  Com- 
iis  unprofitable 
to  his  country- 
Iforded  respect- 
nemoir,  printed 
ington,  in  Feb- 
istruction  as  to 
nd  agricultural 
than  any  other 

Mountains  are 
ly  all  their  furs 
3  but  little  with 
Bay  Company 
nters  and  trap- 
about  three  or 
B  men.     In  the 
furs  on  pack- 
dezvous,  where 
and  the  trade  is 
rticle,  however, 
id  cents.     The 

le  generally  known 
Jonneville's  notes  a 
Mila's  Chroniilp. 
la  ive  to  the  ()iei;on 
ifompanied  Cap  ain 
1  a  Narrative  of  his 
y  in  the  account  of 

rices  current  on  the 
/e  dollars  a  pound ; 
lars  each,  &c. 


principal  places  of  rendezvous  are  on  Green  River,  a  branch  of 
the  Colorado,  at  the  foot  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  on  the  western 
side,  near  the  42d  degree  of  latitude  ;  and  Pierre's  Hole,  a  valley 
about  one  hundred  miles  north  of  the  other,  from  which  issues 
one  of  the  easternmost  head-waters  of  the  Snake,  or  Lewis  River, 
emptying  into  the  Columbia.  Both  these  places  are  near  the 
sources  of  a  branch  of  the  Platte,  there  called  the  Sweet  Water, 
along  which  lies  the  route  of  the  caravans  from  and  to  Missouri. 

To  conclude  with  regard  to  the  trade  in  peltries,  for  which  the 
countries  on  the  northwest  side  of  America  have  been  hitherto 
principally  used  by  the  people  of  civilized  nations.  It  appears  to 
be  certain  that  the  business  is  declining  in  every  part  of  the  con- 
tinent, but  particularly  in  the  territories  drained  by  the  Colum- 
bia, in  consequence  of  the  disappearance  of  the  animals  yielding 
the  furs  and  skins.  The  Hudson's  Bay  Company  successfully 
endeavor  to  prevent  this  decrease  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  by  allowing  the  districts  in  which  it  is  perceived  to 
remain  undisturbed  for  some  time.  On  the  Columbia,  however, 
where  the  control  of  that  body  is  less  absolute,  and  its  tenure  is 
uncertain,  such  precautions  are  not  used;  and  every  part  is  yearly 
ransacked  by  traders  and  trappers,  both  British  and  American. 
How  long  the  fur  trade  may  yet  be  profitably  pursued  beyond 
the  mountains,  it  is  impossible  to  judge  from  the  imperfect  data 
obtained  ;  there  is,  however,  reason  to  believe  that  those  regions 
must  soon  be  abandoned  by  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  unless 
some  other  mode  of  employing  its  capital  there  can  be  devised, 
or  the  entire  possession  of  the  territory  can  be  secured  to  it.  In 
what  other  pursuits  besides  the  fur  trade  British  capitalists  may 
advantageously  employ  their  funds  in  Northwest  America,  is 
therefore  an  interesting  question  at  present.  From  what  has 
been  hitherto  learned  of  tliose  countries,  they  do  not  oflfer  pros- 
pects of  a  speedy  return  for  the  investment  of  capital  in  any  other 
way.  They  contain  lands  in  detached  portions,  which  will 
immediately  yield  to  the  industrious  cultivator  the  means  of 
subsistence,  and  enable  him,  perhaps,  to  purchase  some  foreign 
articles  of  luxury  or  necessity.  But  this  is  all ;  they  produce  no 
precious  metals,  or  commodities,  no  gold  nor  silver,  nor  coffee, 
nor  cotton,  nor  opium;  nor  are  they,  like  India,  inhabited  by  a 
numerous  population,  who  may  be  easily  forced  to  labor  for  the 
benefit  of  a  few. 

Such  is  the  state  of  the  fur  trade  in  the  interior  of  Northwest 
America,  according  to  the  most  recent  accounts.  In  the  north 
Pacific,  this  business  is  no  longer  carried  on  by  vessels  of  the 
United  States,  which  have  been  completely  excluded  from  the 
coasts,  by  the  prohibitory  measures  of  the  Russians,  and  the  ac- 
tivity of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company.  The  only  North  American 
furs  which  now  enter  China  by  sea,  are  brought  thither  direct 
from  New  York  or  from  London ;  but,  in  compensation  for  the 
loss  of  that  trade,  the  Pacific  is  now  traversed  in  all  parts,  by  nu- 
merous Atnerican  whaling  vessels,  giving  employment  to  nearly 
four  thousand  seamen.  For  these  vessels,  the  Sandwich  Islands 
form  the  principal  place  of  resort,  although  they  often  enter  the 
14 


1839. 


I 


198 


1 


1839.  Bay  of  San  Francisco,  in  California,  in  order  to  obtain  water  and 
fresh  provisions.  The  Sandwich  Islands*  are  now  under  the  au- 
thority of  a  native  Sovereign;  the  Bay  of  San  F'rancisco  still  con- 
stitutes a  part  of  the  Mexican  possessions.  How  long  will  these 
two  important  places  remain  in  their  present  political  condition? 
Great  Britain  has  pretensions  to  the  sovereignty  of  Owyhee;  and 
it  is  rumored  that  her  Government  has  made  propositions  to  that 
of  Mexico  for  the  purchase  of  California.  Should  the  British  de- 
termine to  take  possession  of  Owyhee,  there  is  no  probability  that 
they  could  be  prevented  from  so  doing.  With  regard  to  Califor- 
nia, however,  it  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  they  would  occupy  the 
country  without  authorization  from  its  present  possessors  ;  and  it 
is  scarcely  possible  that  any  Mexican  administration  will  venture 
to  sanction  such  a  measure,  as  it  would  undoubtedly  bring  imme- 
diate ruin  upon  the  Republic. 

With  regard  to  colonization  in  Northwest  America,  it  has  al- 
ready been  shown  that  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  is  adverse 
to  the  existence  of  a  free  population  in  its  territories.  The  only 
settlement  which  appears  to  have  been  made  under  its  auspices, 
beyond  the  Rocky  Mountains,  is  that  on  the  Wallamet,  where  a 
few  old  Canadian  voyageurs  are  permitted  to  reside,  Avith  their 
Indian  wives  and  half  breed  families,  on  condition  of  remaining 
faithful  to  their  liege  lords  of  the  company.  In  the  neighborhood 
of  each  large  factory,  indeed,  a  portion  of  ground  is  cleared  and 
cultivated,  and  dwelling-houses,  mills,  and  shops  for  artisans  are 

♦  These  islands  have  been  so  frequently  mentioned  in  the  coui'se  of  this  memoir, 
that  a  short  geographical  notice  olthem  may  be  usefully  inserted  here. 

They  are  in  number  ten,  situated  in  the  north  Pacific,  just  within  the  limits  of  the 
torrid  zone,  between  184  ami  '^'^i  degrees  of  latitude,  about  three  thousand  miles,  or 
twenty  days' sail  southwest  Irum  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia,  and  abou'  twice  that 
distance  from  Canton,  which  lies  nearly  due  west  from  them.  The  largest  of  the 
islands,  Otcyhec,  (or  Hawaii,  as  ii  is  also  sometimes  written,)  is  about  four  thousand 
mi  es  in  superficial  extent,  and  is  supposed  to  contam  eighty  thousand  inlmbiiants. 
The  principal  port  is  Uonoruru,  in  the  island  of  Woahoo,  or  Oahu,  said  to  be  the 
most  fertile  and  agreeable  of  the  group.  They  were  discovered  by  Couk  in  1778, 
and  surveyed  by  Vancouver,  who,  in  1794,  obtained  from  Tamahamaha,  King  of 
Owyhee,  tlie  cession  of  that  island  to  Great  Britain,  as  related  at  page  138.  Tama- 
hamaha died  in  1819,  after  having  reduced  all  the  Sandwich  Islands  under  hi>  au- 
thority ;  and  they  are  a'  present  governed  by  his  reputed  grandson,  Kauikeaouli,  or, 
as  he  styles  himself,  Tamahamaha  III. 

The  Christian  religion  was  established,  or  rather  the  ancient  religion  wa.s  over- 
thrown, after  I  he  death  of  Tamahamaha;  and  several  missionaries,  nearly  all  of 
them  Americans,  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  are  at  present  engaged  in  propagating 
their  docirines  among  the  people.  Some  time  since,  two  French  Catholic  prie.M,s 
entered  the  same  field  as  missionaries;  but  they  were  persecuted,  branded  as  idola- 
ters, and  at  length  driven  from  the  islands  by  the  Government,  at  the  instigation,  it 
is  supposed,  of  the  Protestants.  The  aflfair  was  forgotten  until  last  year,  when  the 
French  frigate  Artemise  arrived  at  Honoruru,  and  retribution  was  exacted  for  the 
alleged  outrages,  in  a  manner  entirely  confornaable  with  the  honor  and  glory  of  the 
Grande  Nation. 

The  value  of  these  islands  to  the  commerce  of  the  north  Pacific  is  incalculable. 
They  form,  indeed,  a  hotel  and  storehouse  for  the  refreshment  and  supply  ol  ves- 
sels, situated  in  the  most  convsnient  position,  immediately  on  the  highway  between 
Asia  and  America.  Their  importance  as  a  place  of  resort  for  the  whaling  vessels 
of  the  United  States  may  be  estimated  from  the  fact,  that  during  the  months  of  Sep- 
tember, October,  and  November,  1839,  they  were  visited  by  thirty-three  ships,  four 
brig!!i,  and  one  schooner,  all  American,  employed  in  that  branch  of  fishery.  It  is 
scarcely  necessary  to  add,  that,  for  the  peace  and  freedom  of  navigation  of  the  Pa- 
cific, the  Sandwich  Islands  should  continue  politically  independent.  This  is,  how- 
ever, scarcely  to  be  expected. 


199 


u 


in  water  and 
inder  the  au- 
sco  still  con- 
ig  will  these 
al  condition? 
)wyhee;  and 
itions  to  that 
16  British  de- 
obability  that 
rd  to  Califor- 
id  occupy  the 
jssors  •,  and  it 
will  venture 
'  bring  inime- 

ica,  it  has  al- 
ny  is  adverse 
s.  The  only 
r  its  auspices, 
imet,  where  a 
le,  with  their 
of  remaining 
neighborhood 
s  cleared  and 
)r  artisans  are 

c  of  this  memoir, 

here. 

n  ihf  limits  of  the 

liousand  miles,  or 

abou'  twice  that 
rhe  largest  of  the 
out  four  thousand 
sand  inliiibiiunls. 
In,  said  lo  be  the 

by  Cook  in  1778, 
hamaha,  Kina;  of 
)age  138.  Tama- 
iids  under  hi>  au- 
,  Kauikeaouli,  or, 

eligion  wa-s  over- 
ries,  nearly  all  of 
ed  in  propagating 
ti  Catholic  prie.->i.s 
branded  »>  idola- 
the  instigation,  it 
ist  year,  when  the 
as  exacted  for  the 
ir  and  glory  of  the 

fie  is  incalculable, 
jnd  supply  ol  ves- 
highwav  between 
le  whaling  vessels 
he  months  of  Sep- 
^-three  ships,  four 
h  of  fishery.  It  is 
igation  of  the  Pa- 
nt.   This  is,  how- 


crected ;  but  these  improvements  are  all  entirely  subservient  to 
the  uses  and  objects  of  the  company;  all  proceedings  not  strictly 
connected  with  its  pursuits  being  discouraged,  and  all  persons 
not  under  its  authority  being  treated  as  intruders.  Of  the  per- 
sons in  the  employment  of  the  association,  a  small  number  only 
are  white  men ;  and  rarely  is  a  white  woman  to  be  seen  in  its 
territories.  The  half-breed  voyageurs,  trappers,  and  hunters,  are 
better,  and  less  expensive,  than  any  others  who  could  be  obtain- 
ed; and  the  Indian  and  half-breed  women  are  the  most  useful 
lielpmates,  with  whom  all  ties  may,  moreover,  be  easily  dissolved. 
There  is,  in  consequence,  little  prospect  of  the  diffusion  of  the 
pure  Anglo-Saxon  race  through  countries  possessed  by  the  Hud- 
son's Bay  Company. 

The  first  emigrations  from  the  United  States  for  the  purpose  of 
settlement,  without  any  special  commercial  views,  in  the  coun- 
tries of  the  Columbia,  appear  to  have  been  made  in  1832.  Three 
years  afterwards,  a  small  colony  of  Americans  was  established  on 
the  Wallamet,  about  seventy  miles  from  its  moutli,  under  the 
direction  of  Mr.  Jason  Lee,  and  other  Methodist  clergymen ;  and 
since  that  period,  the  number  of  citizens  of  the  United  States  per- 
manently residing  beyond  the  Rocky  Mountains  has  been  much 
increased.  With  regard  to  the  condition  of  these  settlements,  no 
information  has  been  recently  obtained.  In  1837  they  were  all 
prospering;  and  it  may  be  supposed  that  they  are  continuing  to 
do  well,  inasmuch  as  a  large  niuiiber  of  emigrants  sailed  for  the 
Columbia  from  New  York  in  the  autumn  of  last  year,  under  the 
superintendence  of  one  of  the  founders  of  trie  Wallamet  colony ; 
and  other  persons  are  said  to  be  now  in  that  city  preparing  for  a 
similar  expedition. 

It  is  not,  however,  by  means  of  such  long  and  dangerous  voy- 
ages that  citizens  of  the  United  States  are  to  effect  settlements 
in  Northwest  America;  and  it  will  doubtless  be  the  care  of  their 
Government  to  render  smoother  and  more  secure  the  routes  across 
the  continent  to  those  countries,  li/infr  entirely  within  the  undis- 
puted limits  of  the  Hepiiblic.  In  the  possession  of  these  routes, 
the  Americans  have  infinite  advantages  over  the  British,  and  all 
other  nations,  for  occupying  the  regions  in  question ;  and  nothing 
more  is  required  to  render  the  journey  through  them  safe  and 
easy,  than  the  establishment  of  a  few  posts,  at  convenient  dis- 
tances apart,  on  a  line  between  the  Missouri  and  the  passes  of 
the  Rocky  Mountains,  which  may  serve  as  forts  to  overawe  the 
savages,  and  as  caravanserais  for  the  repose,  and  possibly  even 
for  the  supply,  of  travellers.  When  this  has  been  done,  the  Amer- 
ican settlements  on  the  Columbia  will  soon  acquire  that  degree 
of  extent  and  stability,  which  will  render  nugatory  all  claims  on 
the  part  of  other  nations  to  the  possession  of  those  countries. 

Within  the  last  five  or  six  years  the  Government  as  well  as 
the  people  of  the  United  States  have  begun  to  devote  their  at- 
tention seriously  to  matters  connected  with  the  northwest  regions 
of  this  continent.  Numerous  petitions  have  been  presented,  and 
motions  have  been  made  and  discussed,  in  both  Houses  of  the 
Federal  Legislature,  for  the  annulment  of  the  existing  arrange- 


183a. 


If 


'ti,' 


200 


P! 


i».|i 


ml  j 
W 


1839.  ment  with  Great  Britain,  the  miUtary  occupation  of  those  territo- 
ries, and  the  extension  of  American  jurisdiction  over  them ;  and 
the  Executive  has  been  sedulously  engaged  in  collecting  the  in- 
formation which  may  be  necessary  in  order  to  place  the  subject 
in  a  proper  light,  and  to  render  movements  effective  at  the  proper 
time.  These  proceedings  are  all  so  recent,  and  so  well  known, 
that  details  respecting  them  would  be  needless.  Suffice  it  to 
say,  that  no  resolution  has  been  taken  on  any  of  the  plans  pro- 
posed ;  and  that  the  position  of  the  American  Government  with 
regard  to  the  territories  claimed  for  the  United  States  on  the  Pa- 
cific, continues  as  fixed  by  its  conventions  with  Great  Britain, 
Russia,  and  Mexico.* 

The  writer  has  now  completed  the  task  assigned  to  him,  by 
presenting  an  exposition  of  the  most  important  circumstances  rel- 
ative to  the  discovery  and  occupation  of  the  northwest  coasts  and 
territories  of  North  America,  by  the  people  of  various  civilized 
nations,  and  of  the  pretensions  advanced  by  the  Governments  of 
those  nations  in  consequence.  To  indicate  farther  the  course 
which  should  be  pursued  on  the  part  of  the  United  States  with  re- 
gard to  their  claims,  lies  not  within  his  province.  To  conclude : 
he  has,  as  he  conceives,  demonstrated  that  the  titles  of  the  United 
States  to  the  possessio7i  of  the  regions  drained  by  the  river  Colum- 
bia, derived  from  priority  of  discovery  and  priority  of  occupation, 
are  as  yet  stronger,  and  'tore  consistent  with  the  principles  of  na- 
tional right,  than  those  of  any  other  Power,  from  whatsoever  source 
derived.  That  those  regions  must  be  eventually  possessed  by 
the  people  of  the  United  States  only,  no  one  acquainted  with  the 
progress  of  settlement  in  the  Mississippi  valley  during  the  last 
fifteen  years  will  be  inclined  to  question ;  but  that  Great  Britain 
will,  by  every  means  in  her  power,  evade  the  recognition  of  the 
American  claims,  and  oppose  the  establishment  of  an  American 
population  on  the  shores  of  the  Pacific,  may  be  confidently  ex- 
pected, from  the  dispositions  evinced  by  her  Government  in  all 
its  recent  discussions  with  the  United  States. 


It 


i 


♦  That  the  British  Government  observes  its  engagements  with  equal  strictness, 
there  is  some  reason  to  doubt;  inasmuch  as  it  is  said  that  a  large  tract  in  the  angle 
formed  by  the  Pacific  and  the  Strait  of  Fuca,  north  of  Bulfinch's  Harbor,  has  been 
recently  granted  in  full  possession  to  the  Hudson's  Bay,  or  some  other  company, 
which  is  actually  engaged  in  dividing  and  selling  the  lands. 


in 


■tj' 


201 


ose  territo- 
them;  and 
ing  the  in- 
the  subject 

the  proper 
ell  known, 
uffice  it  to 

plans  pro- 
iment  with 
on  the  Pa- 
sat  Britain, 

to  him,  by 
istances  rel- 
t  coasts  and 
js  civilized 
ernments  of 
the  course 
ites  with  re- 
o  conclude : 
f  the  United 
iver  Volwm- 
'  occupation, 
7ij)les  of  na- 
iocver  source 
ossessed  by 
ted  with  the 
ing  the  last 
reat  Britain 
lition  of  the 
in  American 
fidently  ex- 
nnient  in  all 


u'qual  strictness, 
act  in  the  angle 
arbor,  has  beeo 
other  compaQy, 


APPENDIX. 


A. 


EXTENT  OF  THE   PART  OP  THE  WEST  COAST  OF  NORTH  AMERICA  SEEN  BY 

FRANCIS    DRAKE    IN    1579. 

All  that  is  known  respecting  Drake's  visit  to  the  northwest  coast  of 
America,  has  been  derived  from  two  narratives  of  his  expedition,  which 
are — 

1.  "  The  Famous  Voyage  of  Sir  Francis  Drake  into  the  South  Sea,  and 
there  hence,  about  the  whole  globe  of  the  earth ;  begun  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord  1577:  by  Francis  Pretty  f^  published  in  London  by  Hakluyt,  in 
1589,  in  his  "  Voyages  and  Navigations  of  the  English;"  and — 

2.  "  The  World  Encompassed  by  Sir  Francis  Drake,  collected  out  of  the 
Notes  of  Mr.  Francis  Fletcher,  Preacher  in  this  employment,  and  compared 
with  divers  others'  Notes,  that  went  in  the  same  voyage."  It  was  published 
in  1(552;  the  name  of  the  compiler  is  not  known.  Fletcher's  Journal  is 
still  preserved  in  manuscript  in  the  British  Museum ;  Burney,  who  con- 
sulted it,  could,  however,  gather  nothing  from  it,  in  addition  to  what  is 
published.  The  Famous  Voyage  is  undoubtedly  one  of  the  ^Uli vers  others' 
notes"  mentioned  in  the  title,  as  whole  sentences,  and  even  paragraphs, 
are  the  same  in  both  narratives.* 

The  Famous  Voyage  is  a  plain  and  succinct  account,  in  general  suffi- 
ciently clear,  of  wliat  the  writer  saw,  or  believed  to  have  taken  place, 
during  the  voyage.  With  regard  to  the  extent  of  coast  observed  by  Drake 
on  the  northwestern  side  of  California,  he  says  only  what  is  contained  in 
the  following  paragraph : 

"  The  5th  day  of  June,  being  in  43  degrees  of  the  pole  arctic,  being 
speedily  come  out  of  the  extreme  heat,  we  found  the  air  so  cold  that  our 
men,  being  pinched  with  the  same,  complained  of  the  extremity  thereof; 
and  the  further  we  went,  the  more  the  cold  increased  upon  us.  Where- 
upon, we  thought  it  best  for  that  time  to  seek  the  land,  and  did  so,  finding 
it  not  mountainous,  but  low  plain  land,  and  we  drew  back  again  without 
landing,  till  we  came  within  38  degrees  towards  the  line  •,  in  which  height 
it  pleased  God  to  send  us  into  a  fair  and  good  bay,  with  a  good  Avind  to 
enter  the  same.  In  this  bay  we  anchored  on  the  17th  of  June."  After 
which,  the  writer  goes  on  to  describe  the  occurrences  on  shore. 

Nothing  is  here  said  of  the  latitude,  or  of  the  day  of  the  month,  in  which 
the  land  was  first  seen ;  it  is,  however,  to  be  inferred  from  the  context, 
that  they  did  not  advance  far  towards  the  north  after  the  5th  of  June,  on 
which  they  were  in  the  latitude  of  43.     Such  was  the  opinion  of  Hak- 


1 


♦  The  part  of  the  Famous  Voijas:e  relating  to  the  northwest  coast  may  be  found  in  the  third 
volume  of  the  reprint  of  Hakluyi's  Cdlleciion,  page  b'i'S.  Tlie  World  Encompassed  is  contained 
in  the  second  volume  of  Osborne's  Collection  of  Voyages,  page  434. 


P 


M'i 


h-  'ii 


1 1 


S  -i 


202 

liiyt,  who,  in  many  parts  of  his  works,  says  that  Drake  sailed  northwest 
of  California  to  the  43d  degree.  Purchas,  in  his  Pilgrims,  published  in 
1()17,  (page  52,  vol.  i,)  relates  that  "  Sir  Francis  Drake  sailed  on  the  other 
side  of  America  to  i3  degrees  of  northerly  latitude,  and  with  cold  was 
forced  to  retire."  And  of  all  the  other  accounts  and  notices  of  this  voyage, 
Avrittcn  before  1750,  three  only  have  been  found,  in  which  it  is  asserted 
that  the  English  proceeded  north  of  the  43d  parallel  in  the  Pacific. 

The  famous  navigator,  John  Davis,  in  his  World's  Hydrographical  Dis- 
covery, published  in  1595,  (Hakluyt,  vol.  iv,  page  459,)  says  :  *'  And  after 
that  Sir  Francis  Drake  was  entered  into  the  South  Sea,  he  coasted  all  the 
western  shores  of  America,  until  he  came  into  the  sej)tentrionaI  latitude 
of  48  degrees."  To  this  assertion,  however,  no  credit  can  be  given,  inas- 
much as  it  is  noAvhere  else  pretended  that  Drake  saw  any  part  of  the 
western  side  of  America,  between  Guatulco  and  the  38th  degree. 

Admiral  Sir  William  Monson,  in  his  Naval  Ti'acts^  first  published  iu 
1712,  also  declares,  that  "  from  the  16th  of  April  to  the  15th  of  June,  Drake 
sailed  without  seeing  land ;  and  arrived  in  48  degrees,  thinking  to  find  a 
passage  into  our  seas,  which  land  he  named  New  Albion."  Unfortu- 
nately for  the  admiral's  consistency,  he  remarks,  in  many  other  parts  of 
liis  Tracts,  that  Cape  Mendocino,  which  is  near  the  40th  parallel,  is  "  t/ie 
fari/ifst  land  discovered,^''  and  "  the  furthermost  Icnown  part  of  America.^* 

The  World  Encompassed  is  the  only  work,  besides  the  two  above  men- 
tioned, published  before  the  middle  of  the  last  century,  in  which  it  is 
maintained  that  Drake  advanced  along  the  west  coast  of  America  beyond 
the  43d  degree  of  latitude ;  and  upon  the  statements  there  given  Burney 
founds  his  assertion,  that  the  whole  western  shore  of  the  continent  be- 
tween the  42d  and  the  48ih  parallels,  was  first  discovered  by  the  English 
navigator.  A  few  extracts  from  the  narrative,  with  observations  upon 
them,  will  serve  to  show  that  this  decision  is  not  warranted  by  sufficient 
authority. 

*  "From  Guatulco,"  says  the  Rev.  Mr.  Fletcher,  "we  departed  April 
15,  setting  our  course  directly  into  the  sea;  whereupon  we  sailed  five 
hundred  leagues  in  longitude  to  get  a  wind,  and  between  that  and  the  3d 
of  June  one  thousand  four  hundred  leagues  in  all,  tdl  we  came  into  the 
latittide  of  42  degrees  north,  where,  in  the  night  following,  we  found  such 
an  alteration  of  the  heat  into  extreme  and  nipping  cold,  that  our  men  in 
general  did  grievously  complain  thereof  #  #  #  #  Jt  came  to 
that  extremity,  that  in  sailing  but  2  degrees  farther  to  the  northward  in 
our  course,  «  «  *  *  our  meat,  as  soon  as  it  was  removed  from 
the  fire,  woidd  presently,  in  a  manner,  be  frozen  up ;  and  our  ropes  and 
tackling,  in  a  few  days,  were  grown  to  that  stiffness,  that  what  three  men 
before  were  able  to  perform,  now  six  men,  with  their  best  strength  and 
utmost  endeavor,  were  hardly  able  to  accomplish.  #  *  *  ♦  The 
land  in  that  part  of  America  bearing  farther  out  into  the  west  than  we 
■before  imagined,  we  were  nearer  on  it  than  we  were  aware ;  and  yet,  the 
nearer  still  we  came  unto  it,  the  more  extremity  of  cold  did  seize  upon  us. 
The  5th  day  of  June  we  were  forced  by  contrary  winds  to  run  in  with 


*  The  part  of  the  World  Encompassed,  devoted  to  Drake's  Voyagfc  in  the  north  Pacific,  is 
.spread  over  a  number  of  paj^es,  the  fjreater  pan  of  whi:h  are  occupied  with  the  speculations 
(of  the  compiler,  no  doubi)  on  ihe  causes  of  the  great  coldness  of  the  atmosphere  in  that  quar- 
ter, and  with  accounts  of  tlie  ceremonies  of  the  natives;  ail  of  which  are  here  omitted. 


203 


northwest 
mblishcd  in 
ni  the  other 
th  cold  was 
this  voyage, 
t  is  asserted 
icific. 
aphical  Dis- 

*'  And  after 
as  ted  all  the 
)nal  latitude 
given, inas- 

part  of  the 
ree. 

Hiblishcd  in 

June,  Drake 

ng  to  find  a 

Unfortu- 

ther  parts  of 

allel,  is  "  the 

if  AniencaJ* 

above  nien- 

which  it  is 

3rica  beyond 

iven  Burney 

ontinent  be- 

the  English 

'^ations  upon 

by  sufficient 

^parted  April 
e  sailed  live 
it  and  the  3d 
xme  into  the 
3  found  such 
t  our  men  in 
It  came  to 
lorthward  in 
emoved  from 
ur  ropes  and 
at  three  men 
strength  and 
*  *  The 
rest  than  we 
and  yet,  the 
lize  upon  us. 
run  in  with 


north  Pacific,  is 
the  speculations 
ere  in  that  quar- 
omilted. 


!»■  • 


the  shore,  which  we  then  first  descried ;  and  to  cast  anclior  in  a  bad  bay, 
the  host  road  wo  could  for  the  pn^sent  meet  with,  where  we  were  not  with- 
out some  danger,  by  reason  of  the  many  extreme  gusts  and  flaws  that  beat 
upon  us.  #  #  «  «  1,1  tins  place  was  no  abiding  fi)r  us,  and  to 
go  fartlier  north  the  extremity  of  the  cold  would  not  permit  us ;  and  the 
winds  directly  bent  against  us,  having  once  gotten  us  under  sail  again, 
commanded  us  to  the  southward,  whether  we  would  or  no.  From  the 
height  of  48  degrees,  in  which  we  now  were,  to  38,  we  found  the  land,  by 
coasting  along  it,  to  be  but  low  and  reasonably  plain ;  every  hill,  whereof 
we  saw  many,  but  none  very  high,  though  it  were  in  June,  and  the  sun 
in  his  nearest  approach  unto  them,  being  covered  with  snow.  In  38  de- 
grees 30  minutes,  we  foil  in  with  a  convenient  and  fit  harbor;  and  June 
17  came  to  anchor  therein,  where  we  continued  till  the  23d  of  July ; 
during  all  which  time,  notwithstanding  it  was  the  heiglit  of  summer,  and 
so  near  the  sun,  yet  we  were  constantly  visited  with  like  nipping  colds 
as  we  had  felt  before.  *  #  ♦  #  Neither  could  we,  at  any  time, 
in  whole  fourteen  days  together,  find  tlie  air  so  clear  as  to  be  able  to  take 
the  height  of  sun  or  star.  *  *  «  #  How  unhandsome  and  deformed 
appeared  the  face  of  the  earth  itself,  showing  trees  without  leaves,  and  the 
ground  without  greenness,  in  those  months  of  June  and  July  [  #  *  * 
For  the  causes  of  this  extremity,  *  *  the  chiefest  we  conceive  to  be, 
the  large  spreading  of  the  Asian  and  American  continents,  which,  (some- 
what northward  of  these  parts,)  if  they  be  not  fully  joined,  yet  seem  to 
come  very  near  one  to  anotlier ;  from  whoso  high  and  snow-covered  moun- 
tains, the  north  and  northwest  winds,  the  constant  visiters  of  these  coasts, 
send  abroad  their  frozen  nymphs.  #  *  *  #  And  that  the  north  and 
northwest  winds  are  here  constant  in  June  and  July,  as  the  north  wind 
alone  is  in  August  and  September,  we  not  only  found  it  by  our  own  ex- 
perience, but  wore  fully  confirmed  in  the  opinion  thereof  by  the  continued 
observations  of  the  Spaniards.  «  *  *  »  Though  we  searched  the 
coast  diligently,  even  unto  the  48th  degree,  yet  found  we  not  the  land  to 
trend  so  much  as  one  point  in  any  place  towards  the  east,  but  rather  run- 
ning on  continually  northwest,  as  if  it  went  directly  to  meet  with  Asia." 
Upon  examining  these  statements,  given  in  the  World  Encompassed, 
we  find  that  on  the  t/iird  of  June,  Drake's  vessel  was  in  the  latitude  of 
fortif-tim  (/e<rn!es ;  and  that  on  the  fifth  of  the  same  month  she  anchored 
near  the  American  coast,  in  a  bay  situated  under  i\\Gfortij-ei<yhth  parallel ; 
that  is  to  say,  in  the  course  ofsirti/  hours  at  furthest,  she  aifvanced  at  least 
three  humlred  and  sixtij  miles,  icith  the  irinds  blowing-  violently  (ts^ainst  her. 
Such  a  rate  of  sailing,  under  such  circumstances,  could  not  be  attained 
by  any  vessel  at  the  present  time;  and  when  we,  moreover,  take  into  con- 
sideration the  constant  obscurity  of  the  heavens,  and  the  constant  agitation 
of  the  Knglish  ship  by  the  waves,  wiiich  must  have  rendered  it  impossi- 
ble to  observe  the  height  of  tlie  sun,  with  the  best  instruments  then  in 
use,  we  may  safely  conclude  that  the  account  of  the  latitudes  is  erroneous. 
This  incongruity  is  not  noticed  by  Captain  Burney,  wlio  bases  his  decis- 
ion entirely  upon  the  autliority  of  the  World  Encompassed.  He  considers 
as  perfectly  '■'•explicit  upon  the  subject^' the  statement  in  that  narrative, 
that  the  English  "  searched  the  coast  diligently,  even  unto  the  48th  de- 
gree, yet  they  found  not  tlie  land  to  trend  so  much  as  one  point  in  any 
place  towards  the  east."  He,  however,  omits  the  remainder  of  the  sen- 
tence— "  but  rather  running  on  continually  northwest,  as  if  it  went  directly 


l! 


204 


I 


m\ 


to  meet  with  Asia,"  although  he  must  have  known  that  it  destroys  the 
vahie  of  the  first  part  of  the  evidence,  iiiasiiiucfi  as  the  coast  nowhere 
between  tlie  4Ist  and  the  47th  parallels  trends  so  muck  as  one  point  to- 
wards the  west. 

Hurney,  moreover,  being  desirous  to  establish  the  character  of  the  World 
Enrotnpassf'd  (or  correctness,  scrupulously  abstains  from  reinarks  ujwn 
the  accounts  given  in  that  work,  of  the  extreme  coldness  of  the  air  in  the 
north  Pacific  during  the  sumn)er.  That  persons  coming  suddenly  froni 
the  torrid  zone  into  a  region  20  degrees  farther  north  should  find  the 
change  of  temperature  disagreeable,  is  quite  natural ;  but  that  "  meat,  as 
soon  as  it  was  removed  froui  the  fire,  should  presently  be  frozen  up,"  and 
the  ropes  and  tackling  of  a  vessel  be  stiflened  by  ice,  during  the  month  of 
June,  in  any  part  of  the  ocean  between  the  40tli  and  44th  degrees  of  lati- 
tude, is  wholly  incredible. 

The  opinion  that  Drake  discovered  the  northwest  coast  of  America  as 
far  as  the  4Sth  degree  of  latitude  was  not  countenanc<!d  by  any  other 
writers  than  the  three  above  cited  before  the  year  1750,  when  it  was 
adopted  by  the  compilers  of  the  Uiographia  Britannica,  in  their  life  of  the 
hero.  Among  those  who  considered  the  43d  parallel  as  the  northern  limit 
of  that  navigator's  course  in  the  Pacific,  are  De  Ijaet,  in  his  HivStoire  du 
Nouveau  Monde;  Ogilby,  in  his  History  of  America;  Heylin,  in  his  Cos- 
mography; Locke,  in  his  History  of  Navigation;  and  last,  not  least,  Dr. 
Samuel  Johnson,  in  his  Biography  of  Drake.  In  tlic  maps  of  America, 
contained  in  Heylin's  Cosmography,*  printed  in  1708,  and  in  the  curious 
Historical  Atlas  of  Mitchell  and  Senex,  published  in  1720,  California  is 
represented  as  an  island  extending  from  the  2Hd  parallel  to  the  44th,  in 
the  northern  part  of  which  New  Albion  is  located.  These  autliorities  will 
serve  at  least  to  show  which  of  the  two  opinions  may  be  regarded  as  an 
innovation. 

The  question  is  of  little  importance.  The  British  Governm,ent  has, 
however,  on  many  occasions,  evinced,  indirectly,  a  desire  to  found  some 
claim  to  the  possession  of  the  northwestern  side  of  America  upon  the  sup- 
posed discoveries  of  Drake  in  that  quarter.  The  name  New  Albion  will  bo 
generally  found  occupying  a  large  space  on  all  maps  of  America  published 
in  Great  Britain.  In  the  chart  attached  to  the  Journal  of  Vancouver's  ex- 
pedition, t/ie  iv/iole  of  Calif ornia  is  thus  designated ;  and  as  recently  as 
1827,  it  has  been  insisted  on  the  part  of  the  British  Government  that  Great 
Britain  had  obtained  grants  of  territory  on  the  northwest  coast  of  America, 
from  the  inhabitants,  before  the  existence  of  the  United  States  as  a  nation. 

To  conclude :  there  is  no  absolute  evidence  that  Drake  did  not  discover 
the  northwest  American  coast  as  lar  north  as  the  48th  degree ;  but,  on  the 
other  hand,  the  assertion  that  he  did  is  not  supported  by  adequate  testi- 
mony, and,  where  originally  made,  it  is  accompanied  by  statements  irre- 
concilable with  the  results  of  experience.  It  may  be  admitted  that  the 
English  did,  in  1579,  see  the  part  of  that  coast  included  between  the  38th 
and  the  4.3d  parallels ;  but  it  is  equally  certain,  if  not  more  so,  that  such 
part  had  been  already  discovered  by  the  Spaniards,  under  Cobrillo  and 
Ferrelo,  in  1543. 


(( 


grees. 


•It  may  be  here  remarked,  lliat  in  lie  lin's  map  of  America,  the  northwest  coas'  beyond 
California  to  iho  extieniiiy  of  Alia.sl»n,  ii.  :aid  down  almost  accurately.  Yei  we  have  no  ac- 
counts of  any  discoveries  in  that  part  of  the  Pacific  of  a  dale  earlier  than  1741. 


205 


destroys  tho 

oust  nowhere 

one  point  to- 

r  of  the  World 
'(niiurks  upon 
the  air  in  the 
luldeiUy  from 
on  Id  find  the 
lat  "  meat,  as 
Dzen  up,"  and 
the  month  of 
egrees  of  lati- 

nf  America  as 

hy  any  other 

when  it  was 

leir  Hfe  of  the 

nortliern  limit 

is  Histoire  du 

n,  in  his  Cos- 

not  least,  Dr. 

s  of  America, 

in  the  curious 

',  California  is 

0  the  44th,  in 
utiiorities  will 
regarded  as  an 

irernment  has, 
to  found  some 
upon  the  sup- 

1  Albion  will  bo 
irica  published 
meouver's  ex- 
as  recently  as 
lent  that  Great 
ist  of  America, 
es  as  a  nation, 
d  not  discover 
le  ;  but,  on  the 
idequate  testi- 
:atements  ivre- 
litted  that  the 
ween  the  38th 

so,  that  such 
r  Cabrillo  and 


west  coas'  beyond 
'el  we  have  no  ac- 
II. 


B. 

PRF.TKNDKD    DISCOVKRY,  BY    MAI.noXAno,    OF 
TWEKN   THE    ATLANTIC    AM)    THE 


A   NORTHRRN   PASSAOE  nE- 
I'ACIFIC    IX 


1588. 

The  Spanish  manuscript  discovered  by  Amoretti  ii^the  Ambrosian 
Library  at  Milan,  and  of  which  he  published  a  Frenn*!  translation  in 
1812,  (see  page  40,)  is  entitled  :  "  A  RihUion  of  tint  JJisrovcry  of  the  Strait 
of  Aniun,  made  by  me,  Captain  Lorenzo  Ferrer  de  Maldonado^  in  the  year 
1588,  in  vhich  is  written  tin;  order  of  the  tiaviijfation,  the  situation  of  the 
place,  and  the  manner  of  fortifyinif  it.''  It  consisted  of  thirty-five  para- 
graphs, the  most  material  of  wliicli  are  presented  by  Burney  in  his  His- 
tory of  Voyages  in  the  South  Sea,  vol.  v,  page  107 ;  they  are  as  follows : 

"  By  means  of  this  strait,  the  King  would  render  himself  sole  master 
of  all  the  spices,  and  make  a  profit  of  five  millions  annually,  by  constrain- 
ing (»lher  nations  to  send  to  Spain  to  procure  them.  Spain,  therefore, 
ouglit  immediately  to  set  about  securing  and  fortifying  this  strait.  But 
it  is  necessary  that  I  should  show  the  route  which  must  be  taken,  the 
ports  that  will  be  found,  and  tliat  I  add  thereto  a  narration  of  my  voyage. 

"  Departing  from  Spain  or  Lisbon,  the  course  is  to  the  northwest  four 
hundred  and  fifty  leagues,  by  which  you  will  arrive  to  60  degrees  north 
latitude,  where  you  will  have  sight  of  Friesland.  Thence,  the  route  must 
be  to  the  west,  keeping  in  the  said  latitude  one  hundred  and  eighty 
leagues  to  the  land  of  Labrador,  at  tho  place  where  begins  the  Strait  of 
Labrador.  Here  are  two  channel-^,  one  leading  to  the  northeast,  and  the 
other  to  the  northwest.  The  course  must  be  in  that  to  the  northwest,  to 
04  degrees,  where  the  channel  changes  its  direction ;  and  you  will  have 
to  sail  north  one  hundred  and  twenty  leagues,  to  the  latitude  of  72  de- 
grees. The  channel  then  again  Uirns  to  the  northwest,  and  you  run  in 
it  to  75  degrees.  You  then  intirely  (juit  the  Strait  of  Labrador,  and  be- 
gin to  lower  your  latitude,  steering  west-by  south  three  hundred  and  fifty 
leagues,  to  latitude  71  degrees.  It  was  at  this  place  in  our  voyage  that  we 
discovered  a  high  land,  but  we  could  not  discern  if  it  was  island  or  con- 
tinent. Nevertheless,  we  concluded  that  if  it  was  the  main  land  it  would 
be  joined  to  New  Spain.  From  seeing  this  land,  you  steer  west-south- 
west four  hundred  and  forty  leagues,  to  00  degrees  latitude,  where  should 
be  found  the  Strait  of  Anian.  In  this  manner  they  will  make  the  same 
navigation  which  I  have  made,  at  least  from  Fri?sland  to  this  place.  The 
distance  to  be  sailed,  from  Spain  to  the  Strait  of  Anian,  is  one  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  ten  leagues. 

"When  we  went  out  from  the  .Strait  of  Labrador,  which  was  at  the 
beginning  of  the  luoiith  of  March,  we  had  much  to  suffer  from  the  dark- 
ness, the  cold,  and  tempests.  Those  who  think  this  sea  can  be  entirely 
frozen  over  are  in  an  error ;  for,  by  reason  of  its  extent,  of  the  great  currents 
which  are  in  the  strait,  and  the  high  waves  which  keep  the  sea  continu- 
ally in  motion,  i ;  cannot  be  frozen  ;  but  on  the  shores,  and  in  the  places 
where  the  sea  is  tranquil,  I  think  it  may  be  frozen. 

"  When  we  were  on  our  return,  in  the  month  of  June,  and  in  part  of 
July,  we  had  {ontiniial  light,  and  the  sun  never  descended  below  the 
horizon,  till  we  were  the  second  time  in  the  middle  of  the  Strait  of  Labra- 
dor. Whilst  tie  sun  remained  continually  above  the  horizon,  the  air  was 
so  warm  that  wc  had  to  suffer  as  much  from  the  heat  as  in  the  hottest  time 
in  Spain. 


;i; 


206 


"  TIm'  strait  which  wo  discovcrcid  in  ('•()  {l('i,'rops  north  latitndo  iippcars 
to  Ik;  that  which,  t'roin  an  uiiciiuit  trathtioii,  tho  cosiiiographcrs  in  their 
charts  call  the  Strait  ol'Aiiiaii ;  and,  if  it  is  trno  tliat  snch  a  strait  exists, 
it  ouL^ht,  nocossarily,  to  leave  Asia  on  one  sid(!,  and  A!neri(;a  on  the  other. 
When  we  werdont  of  the  strait  into  tho  (jJroat  8ea,  [tho  Pacific  Ocean,! 
wo  navigatod  along  tho  coast  of  America  more  than  one  hundred  leapnes, 
liaviiiij'  our  prow  to  the  southwest  till  we  found  ourselves  in  /);>  decrees 
latitude.  VVo  then  left  this  coast,  which  we  saw  prolonged  itself  towards 
the  south,  and  directed  our  prow  to  the  west  four  days,  at  thirty  leagues 
per  day,  and  discovered  a  large  land  and  great  chains  of  mountams.  We 
navigated  along  it,  keeping  at  a  distance,  sometimes  to  the  northeast, 
sometimes  to  the  northwest,  and  sometimes  to  the  north,  but  in  general 
to  the  northeast.  We  could  not  know  particular  things  of  this  coast,  be- 
cause we  kept  far  ofl'  from  tho  land.  I  can  only  ailirm  that  the  country 
is  peopled,  because  in  many  places  we  saw  men ;  and  wo  judged  that 
these  lands  were  tho  lands  of  the  Tartars,  or  of  Catay.  At  length,  fol- 
lowing this  same  coast,  wo  again  found  ourselves  in  the  Strait  of  Aniaii, 
from  which  we  had  gone  fifteen  days  before  into  tho  Great  Sea,  which 
we  knew  to  be  the  South  Sea,  where  lie  the  countries  of  Japan,  China, 
the  Moluccas,  and  New  (iuinea,  with  the  discovery  of  Captain  Uuiros, 
and  all  the  western  coast  of  New  Spain  and  Peru. 

"  At  the  mouth  of  the  strait  by  which  you  enter  the  South  Sea,  on  the 
American  side,  is  a  port  capable  of  containing  five  luuidred  ships.  The 
country  is  pleasant;  tho  temperature  agreeable;  the  cold  of  the  winter 
not  rigorous,  though  in  69  degrees  nortli  latitude,  to  judge  by  tho  kinds 
of  fi-uits  which  were  found.  Here  are  very  high  trees,  some  producing 
good  fruits  like  to  those  in  Spain,  and  others  not  belbre  known  to  tis. 

"  The  strait  has  fifteen  leagues  of  extent,  in  which  it  makes  six  turns 
or  angles,  and  the  two  entrances  are  north  and  south  from  each  other. 
The  breadth  of  the  northern  entrance  is  less  than  half  a  quarter  of  a 
league.  The  southern  entrance,  which  is  near  the  port,  is  more  than  a 
quarter  of  a  league  in  breadth  ;  and  in  the  middle  is  a  great  rock  or  islot, 
about  two  hundred  paces  in  diameter,  of  a  circular  form,  and  of  the  height 
of  three  shades.  The  channel,  on  one  side  of  this  islot,  is  so  shallow  as 
to  be  navigable  only  for  boats ;  but  the  channel  between  the  islot  and  the 
land  of  America,  though  not  quite  half  a  qtiarter  of  a  league  in  breadth, 
has  deep  water  for  ships.  The  borders  are  low  ;  and  forts  might  be  built 
both  on  the  main  land  and  on  the  islot,  which  would  straiten  the  [)assage 
to  within  musket  shot.  The  passage  might  also  be  shut  or  locked  up 
with  a  chain  across,  which  with  industry  might  be  formed  strong  enough 
to  stand  against  the  currents. 

"  It  is  difficult  to  know  the  entrance  of  the  strait  on  the  northern  side, 
because  the  two  shores  interlock,  reciprocally  hiding  each  other.  In  fact, 
when  we  first  arrived  there,  we  were  some  days  without  perceiving  it,  al- 
though we  had  already  entered,  being  guided  by  a  good  narrative  of  Juan 
Martinez,  pilot-mayor,  who  was  a  Portuguese,  a  native  of  Algarva,  a  very 
old  man  and  of  much  experience.  But  I  have  taken  marks  by  the  moun- 
tains, to  enable  me  to  make  another  navigation  if  I  should  have  occasion. 

"  In  the  port  where  we  cast  anchor,  we  lay  from  the  beginning  of  April 
to  the  middle  of  June.  At  this  epoch,  we  saw  come  from  the  South  Sea 
to  enter  the  strait  a  great  ship  of  eight  hundred  tons,  which  made  us  take 
to  our  arms ;  but  we  reciprocally  came  to  know  each  other  a">  peaceable 


t; 


voyagers 
cluuuiiso 
from  Ch 
precious 
or  Hansc 
of  Saint 
which  w 
where  th 
tain  muc 
little  con 
separated 
took  the 
The  i. 
lion  of  tl 
and  pron 
and  audi 
of  fifteen 
The  revii 
north  Pai 
bly  have 
nnght  ha 
America. 


".'1  Note 
cuniino 
passarr 

"  Who 
man,  abo 
properly 
protessioi 
come  lat( 
rt'ucc,  wl 
iner,  reat 
in  whose 
glas  beir 
Greek  pi  I 
ence  bet\ 
in  the  Iti 

"  First 
years,  an 
the  Span 


♦  The  Of 
oriijinal  Sp 


207 


latitiido  iippcars 
niphcrs  iu  tlu;ir 
li  u  strait  exists, 
i(!!i  oil  the  utiicr. 

l*arific  Ocean,] 
luiulrod  leagues, 
cs  in  /)i)  degrees 
ed  itself  towards 
at  thirty  leagues 
noiiutaiiis.  VVft 
:i  the  northeast, 
1,  l)nt  iti  general 
of  this  coast,  bc- 
tluit  the  country 
wo  judged  that 

At  length,  fol- 
1  Strait  of  Anian, 
ireat  Sea,  which 
>f  Japan,  China, 
Captain  Uuiros, 


nuth  Sea,  on  the 
red  ships.  Tlio 
Id  of  the  winter 
Ige  by  the  kinds 
some  producing 
iiown  to  ns. 
makes  six  turns 
from  each  other. 
f  a  quarter  of  a 
t,  is  more  than  a 
•eat  rock  or  islot, 
ind  of  the  height 
is  so  shallow  as 
the  islot  and  the 
ngue  in  bread tli, 
ts  might  be  built 
liten  the  passage 
ut  or  locked  up 
d  strong  enough 

18  northern  side, 
1  other.  In  fact, 
perceiving  it,  al- 
narrative  of  Juan 
f  Algarva,  a  very 
ks  by  the  moun- 
d  have  occasion, 
iginning  of  April 
in  the  South  Sea 
ch  made  us  take 
lier  a-'  peaceable 


voyagers.  The  sailors  had  the  generosity  to  give  us  some  of  the  nier- 
I'liaiulise  of  their  cargo,  which  resembletl  the  things  which  come  to  us 
from  China,  as  brocades,  silks,  |)or('(!lain,  and  other  ellects  of  v. due,  as 
precious  stones  and  gold.  Tluise  peo[)le  app«!ared  to  us  to  he  Moscovites, 
or  Hansentics ;  that  is  to  say,  those  who  make  their  residence  in  the  Port 
of  Saint  Mii'-hael,  [Hamburg.]  They  said  they  came  from  a  large  town, 
which  was  distant  from  the  strait  a  little  more  than  one  hundred  leagues, 
where  they  had  left  another  vessel  of  their  country.  We  could  not  ob- 
tain much  infbrmation  from  these  people,  because  they  siMtkt;  to  us  with 
little  confidence  and  much  circumspection;  and,  for  that  reason,  we  soon 
s(!parated,  and,  Imving  left  them  near  the  strait  and  in  the  North  Sea,  we 
t()(»k  the  route  for  Spain." 

The  London  Quarterly  Review  for  October,  IHIO,  contains  an  exposi- 
tion of  the  numerous  falsehoods  and  blunders  contained  in  this  rc/alinti, 
and  pronounces  "the  pretended  voyage  of  Maldonado  to  be  tiie  clumsy 
and  audacious  forgery  of  some  ignorant  German,  from  the  circumstance 
of  fifteen  leagues  to  the  degree  being  used  in  some  of  the  computations." 
The  reviewer  avows  his  belief  that  Maldonado  did  make  a  voyage  in  the 
north  Pacific,  about  the  end  of  the  Kith  century,  and  that  he  may  possi- 
bly have  reached  Prince  William's  Sound  or  Cook's  Inlet,  either  of  which 
might  have  been  then  at  first  mistaken  lor  a  strait  separating  Asia  from 
America.  ik 


0. 

ACCOUNT    OK  THE  VOVAOK    Ol'  JUAN  DE    PLC  .  IN  1592. 

[Extracleil  from  Purchas's  Pilgrim-*,  vol.  iii,  page  81!).*J 

"  A  Note  made  by  me,  Mic/iaef  Lor/,;  the  ehfer,  tmichinrf  the  strait  nf  sea, 
commonly  culled  Prvtum  Anian,  in  the  /South  Seu,  through  the  northwest 
passage  of  Meta  Incognita. 

"When  I  was  at  Venire,  in  A))ril,  l.WG,  happily  arrived  there  an  old 
man,  about  sixty  years  of  uge,  called  commonly  Juan  de  Fuea,  but  named 
properly  Apostolos  I'alerianus,  of  nation  a  (Jreek,  born  in  (Jephalonia,  of 
profession  a  mariner,  and  an  ancient  pilot  of  shii)s.  This  man,  being 
come  lately  out  of  Spain,  arrived  first  at  Leghorn,  and  went  thence  to  Flo- 
rence, where  he  fi^und  one  John  Douglas,  an  Englishman,  a  famous  mar- 
iner, ready  coming  for  Venice,  to  be  pilot  of  a  Venetian  ship  for  Kngland, 
in  whose  company  they  came  both  together  to  Venire.  And  John  Dou- 
glas being  acquainted  with  me  before,  he  gave  me  knowledge  of  this 
Greek  pilot,  and  brought  liiin  to  my  speech  ;  and  in  long  talks  and  confer- 
ence between  us,  in  presence  of  John  Douglas,  this  Greek  pilot  declared, 
in  the  Italian  and  Spanish  languages,  thus  much  in  effect  as  foUoweth : 

"  First :  he  said  that  he  had  been  in  the  West  Indies  of  Spain  forty 
years,  and  had  sailed  to  and  from  many  places  thereof,  in  the  service  of 
the  Spaniards. 


♦  The  orihogranhy  of  the  English  is  modernized;  the  lelters  are,  however,  given  iu  their 
original  Spanish- Italian  linguafranca. 


Vi 


V- 


208 


"  Also,  he  said  that  he  was  in  the  Spanish  ship  which,  in  returnin; 
from  the  Islands  Philippinas,  towards  Nova  Spania,  was  robbed  and  take 
at  the  Cape  California  by  Captain  Candish,  Englishman,  whereby  he  los 
sixty  thousand  ducats  of  his  own  goods. 

"  Also,  he  said  that  he  was  pilot  of  three  small  ships,  which  the  Viceroy 
of  Mexico  sent  from  Mexico,  armed  with  one  hundred  men,  under  a  cap.  ^  ^^ 
tain,  Spaniards,  to  discover  the  Straits  of  Anian,  along  the  coast  of  the  ^.„q^  jj^jq  l 
South  Sea,  and  to  fortify  in  that  strait,  to  resist  the  passage  and  proceed- 
ings  of  the  English  nation,  which  were  feared  to  pass  through  thosj 
straits  into  the  South  Sea ;  and  that,  by  reason  of  a  mutiny  which  hap- 
pened among  the  soldiers  for  the  misconduct  of  their  captain,  that  voyage 
was  overthrown,  and  the  ship  returned  from  California  to  Nova  Spania. 
without  any  thing  done  in  that  voyage;  and  that,  after  their  return,  the 
captain  was  at  Mexico  punished  by  justice. 

"  Also,  he  said  that  shortly  after  the  said  voyage  was  so  ill  ended,  the 
said  Viceroy  of  Mexico  sent  him  out  again  in  1592,  with  a  small  caravel 
and  a  pinnace,  armed  with  mariners  only,  to  follow  the  said  voyage  for  the 
discovery  of  the  Straits  of  Anian,  and  the  passage  thereof  into  the  sea, 
which  they  call  thu  North  Sea,  which  is  our  northwest  sea ;  and  that  he    fpreasnrpr 
followed  his  course  in  that  voyage,  west  and  northwest  in  the  South  Sea,    >    .    .^^^ 
all  along  the  coast  of  Nova  Spania,  and  California,  and  the  Indies,  now    ,  ^  ' 
called  $it'orth  America,  (all  which  voyage  he  signified  to  me  in  a  great 
map,  and  a  sea  card  of  mine  own,  which  I  laid  before  him,)  until  he  came 
to  the  latitude  of  47  degrees ;  and  that  there  finding  that  the  land  trended! 
north  and  northeast,  with  a  broad  inlet  of  sea,  between  47  and  48  degrees 
of  latitude,  he  entered  thereinto,  sailing  therein  more  than  twenty  days,] 
and  found  that  land  trending  still  sometime  northwest  and  northeast,  and 
north,  and  also  east  and  southeastward,  and  very  much  broader  sea  than, 
was  at  the  said  entrance,  and  that  he  passed  by  divers  islands  in  that  sail-_ 
ing ;  and  that  at  the  entrance  of  this  said  strait,  there  is,  on  the  northwest   ,„„„^  ^„ 
coast  thereof,  a  great  headland  or  island,  with  an  exceeding  high  pinnacle,   j-       x^Jl 
or  spired  rock,  like  a  pillar  thereu}X)n.  I ,. 

"  Also,  he  said  that  he  went  on  land  in  divers  places,  and  that  he  saw    pi-ppi^     -j 
some  people  on  land  clad  in  beasts'  skins;  and  that  the  land  is  very  fruit-    i  .      jPg/. 
ful,  and  rich  of  gold,  silver,  pearls,  and  other  things,  like  Nova  Spania.  '  ' 

"  And  also,  he  said  that  he  being  entered  thus  far  into  the  said  strait, 
and  being  come  into  the  North  Sea  already,  and  finding  the  sea  wide 
enough  everywhere,  and  to  be  about  tliirty  or  forty  leagues  wide  in  liie 
mouth  of  the  straits,  where  he  entered,  he  thought  he  had  now  well 
discharged  his  office ;  and  that  not  being  armed  to  resist  the  force  of  the 
savage  people,  that  might  happen,  he  therefore  set  sail,  and  returned  home- 
wards again  towards  Nova  Spania ;  where  he  arrived  at  Acapvlco,  anno 
1592,  hnping  to  be  rewarded  by  the  Viceroy  for  this  service  done  in  the 
said  voyage. 

"  Also,  he  said  that  after  coming  to  Mexico,  he  was  greatly  welcomed 
by  the  Viceroy,  and  had  promises  of  great  reward ;  but  that  having  sued 
there  two  years,  and  obtained  nothing  to  his  content,  the  Viceroy  told  him 
that  he  should  be  rewarded  in  Spain,  of  the  King  himself,  very  greatly, 
and  willed  him  therefore  to  go  to  Spain ;  which  voyage  he  did  perform. 

"  Also,  he  said  that  when  he  was  come  into  Spain,  he  was  welcomed 
there  at  the  King's  court ;  but  after  long  suit  there  also,  he  could  not  get 
any  reward  there  to  his  content ;  and,  therefore,  at  length  he  stole  away 


out  of  Spa 
wn  kindi 

«  Also,  I 

paniards, 
nation  hai 
vest 
way  i 
any  more. 

"  Also,  1 
England, 
Majesty  w 
would  be  ( 
age  for  th 
§ea,  if  sh« 
and  a  pinr 
end  to  the 

"  And  u 
thereof  aci 


them  to  d 

England  v 

!hat  time. 

Idesired  in 

ction  diec 

n  his  owi 

fortnight 

"  And  ii 


*''Al  Ma 


"MuyF 

tre  de  pocj 
Vonesia  so 
carta  a  V.  . 


To  the  Maf. 

Most  Hon 
wbai  passed 
Ihoughi  prop* 
me  word  dire 
sel,  which  is 
Eleazer  Hyc 


Venice,  Jit 


209 


ich,  in  returnins 
robbed  and  taker 
,  whereby  he  los^ 


out  of  Spain,  and  came  into  Italy,  to  go  home  again  and  Uve  among  his 
nvn  kindred  and  countrymen,  he  being  very  old. 

"  Also,  he  said  that  he  thought  the  cause  of  his  ill  reward  had  of  the 
Spaniards,  to  be  for  that  they  did  understand  very  well  that  the  English 
nation  had  now  given  over  all  their  voyages  for  discovery  of  the  north- 
west passage ;  wherefore  they  need  not  fear  them  any  more  to  come  that 
way  into  the  South  Sea,  and,  therefore,  they  needed  not  his  service  therein 
any  more. 

"  Also,  he  said  that,  understanding  the  noble  mind  of  the  Queen  of 
England,  and  of  her  wars  against  the  Spaniards,  and  hoping  that  her 
Majesty  would  do  him  justice  for  his  goods  lost  by  Captain  Candish,  he 
would  be  content  to  go  into  England,  and  serve  her  Majesty  in  that  voy- 
age for  the  discovery  perfectly  of  the  northwest  passage  into  the  South 
Sea,  if  she  would  furnish  him  with  only  one  ship  of  forty  tons  burden 
and  a  pinnace ;  and  that  he  would  perforin  it  in  thirty  days  time,  from  one 
end  to  the  other  of  the  strait ;  and  he  willed  me  so  to  write  to  England. 
^  .         ,         '     "  And  upon  conference  had  twice  with  the  said  Greek  pilot,  I  did  write 
reoi  ""o  "le  sea,    ,)iereof  accordingly  to  England,  unto  the  right  honorable  the  old  Lord 
•^^^li    V    f/%       Treasurer  Cecil,  and  to  Sir  Walter  Raleigh,  and  to  Master  Richard  Hak- 
m  tne  isoutn  ^caMy^y^^  jj^at  famous  cosmographer,  certifying  them  hereof     And  I  prayed 
'them  to  disburse  one  hundred  pounds,  to  bring  the  said  Greek  pilot  into 
England  with  myself,  for  that  my  own  purse  would  not  stretch  so  wide  at 
that  time.    And  I  had  answer  that  this  action  was  well  liked,  and  greatly 
desired  in  England ;  but  the  money  was  not  ready,  and  therefore  this 
iction  died  at  that  time,  though  the  said  Greek  pilot  perchance  liveth  still 
n  his  own  country,  in  CephaUmia,  towards  which  place  he  went  within 
fortnight  after  this  conference  had  at  Venice. 

"  And  in  the  mean  time,  while  I  followed  my  own  business  in  Venice, 
eing  in  a  lawsuit  against  the  company  of  merchants  of  Turkey,  to  re- 


vhich  the  Viceroy 
nen,  under  a  cap 
f  the  coast  of  the 
lage  and  proceed- 
ss  through  those 
utiny  which  hap. 
ptain,  that  voyage 
a  to  Nova  Spania. 
r  their  return,  the 

I  so  ill  ended,  the 
h  a  small  caravel 
aid  voyage  for  the 


i  the  Indies,  noM 
to  me  in  a  greai 
m,)  until  he  came' 
t  the  land  trended! 
47  and  48  degrees 
han  twenty  days 
md  northeast,  and 
broader  sea  than 
ilands  in  that  sail 
on  the  northwest 


.      J.  ,  ,  !over  my  pension  due  for  being  their  consul  at /1/<?/>jdo,  which  they  held 

ing  nig    pninac  e,  ^^^  ^^  wrongfully  ;  and  when  I  was  in  readiness  to  return  to  England, 

,    ,      J  1  thought  1  should  be  able  of  my  own  purse  to  take  with  me  the  said 

,  and  that  ne  saw  ^^^^^^  pjl^^.  ^^^^^  therefore,  1  wrote  unto  him  from  Venice  a  letter,  dated 

land  is  very  iruit-  j^j^^  jggg^  ^^^.^^  ^^  ^^p.^^  ^^^^  ^^^^^^ . 


ery 
e  Nova  Spanin 
to  the  said  strait, 
ling  the  sea  wide 
agues  wide  in  tiie 
le  had  now  well 
St  the  force  of  the 
id  returned  home- 
at  Acapuko,  anno 
srvice  done  in  the 

greatly  welcomed 
:  that  having  sued 
9  Viceroy  told  him 
iself,  very  greatly, 
he  did  perform, 
he  was  welcomed 
,  he  could  not  get 
jth  he  stole  away 


• «  Al  Ma^'^o- 


Sig"^-  Capitan  Juan  de  Puca,  Piloto  de  India,  amigo  mio 
char"'"  en  jSefalonia. 


"  Muv  HoNRADo  Srnnor:  Siendo  yo  para  buelverme  en  Inglatierra  den- 
tre  de  pocas  mezes,  y  accucrdandome  de  lo  trattado  entre  my  y  V.  M.  en 
Vonesia  sobre  el  viagio  de  las  Indias,  me  ha  parescido  bien  de  scrivir  esta 
carta  a  V.  M.  para  que  se  tengais  animo  de  andar  con  migo,  puedais  escri- 


•  To  the  MagniJicciU  Captain  Juan  de  f\ita,  Pilot  of  the  Indies;  my  most  dear  friend  in  Cepha- 

Ionia. 

Most  [Ionored  Sir:  Being  about  to  return  to  Eogland  in  a  few  months,  and  recollecting 
what  passed  bt-iween  yon  and  myself  at  Venice  respecting  'he  voyatfe  lo  the  Indies,  I  haye 
thought  proper  to  write  you  ihis  letter,  so  that  it  you  have  a  mind  to  go  with  me,  you  can  write 
me  worddireclv  how  we  are  to  arrange.  You  may  send  me  your  letter  with  this  English  ves- 
sel, which  is  at  ianie,  (if  you  should  find  no  better  opportunity,)  directed  to  the  care  of  Mr. 
Eleazer  Hyckman, an  English  merchani,  Saint  Thomas  street,  Venice.  God  pieserve  you,  sir. 
Your  friend, 

U\Cnk£l.hOQK,  of  England. 

Vemcr,  July  1, 1596. 


liii 


^;  )i 


i3- 


210 

birme  presto  en  que  maniera  quereis  consertaros.  Y  puedais  etnbiarmi 
vuestra  carta  con  esta  nao  Ingles,  que  sta  al  Zante  (sino  hallais  otra  coi- 
untura  nieior)  con  el  sobrescritto  que  diga  en  casa  del  Sennor  Eleazar 
m,  mercader  Ingles,  al  tragetto  de  San  Tomas  en  Venisia.  Y  Dins 
guarde  la  persona 
1596  annos 


Y  puedais  embiarmi 
(sino  hallais  otra  coi- 
untura  nieior)  con  el  sobrescritto  que  diga  en  casa  del  Sennor  Eleazar 
Hycman,  mercader  Ingles,  al  tragetto  de  San  Tomas  en  Venisia.  Y  Dios 
guarde  la  persona  de  V.  M.  Fecha  en  Venesia  al  primer  dia  de  Julio, 
1596  annos. 

"Amigode  V.  M., 

"  MICHAEL  LOCK,  Ingles. 

"  And  I  sent  the  said  letter  from  Venice  to  Zante  in  the  ship  Cherubin ; 
and  shortly  after  I  sent  a  copy  thereof  in  the  ship  Minion ;  and  also  a  third 
copy  thereof  by  Manea  Orlando,  patron  de  nave  Venetian.  And  unto  my 
said  letters  he  wrote  me  answer  to  Venice  by  one  letter,  which  came  not 
to  my  hands ;  and  also  by  another  letter,  which  came  to  my  hands ;  which 
is  copied  here  under : 

*  ".4/  III""'  Sig"''-  Michael  Lock,  Ingles,  in  casa  del  Sig°^-  Lasaro,  merca- 

der Ingles,  al  tragetto  de  San  To-mas  en  Venesia. 

''  MuY  Illustre  Sig<"*  :  La  carta  de  V.  M.  recevi  a  20  dias  del  mese 
di  Settembre,  por  loqual  veo  loche  V.  M.  me  manda.  lo  tengho  animo  de 
complir  loche  tengo  promettido  a  V.  M.  y  no  solo  yo,  mas  tengo  vinte  hom- 
bres  para  lievar  con  migo,  porche  son  hombres  vaglientes ;  y  assi  estoi 
esperando  por  otra  carta  che  avise  a  V.  M.  parache  me  embiais  los  dinieros 
che  tengo  escritto  a  V.  M.  Porche  bien  save  V.  M.  como  io  vine  pover, 
porque  me  glievo  Captain  Candis  mas  de  sessenta  mille  ducados,  como 
V.  M.  bien  save ;  embiandome  lo  dicho,  ire  a  semr  a  V.  M.  con  todos  mis 
compagueros.  I  no  spero  otra  cosa  mas  de  la  voluntad  e  carta  de  V.  M. 
con  tanto  nostro  Sig  ■'  Dios  guarda  la  illustre  persona  de  V.  M.  muchos 
annos.  De  Ceffalonia  a  24  de  Settembre  del  1596. 
"  Amigo  y  servitor  de  V.  M., 

"JUAN  FUCA. 

"  And  the  said  letter  came  into  my  hands  in  Venice,  the  16th  day  of 
November,  1596;  but  my  lawsuit  with  the  company  of  Turkey  was  not 
ended,  by  reason  of  Sir  John  Spenser's  suit,  made  in  England  at  the 
Queen's  court  to  the  contrary,  seeking  only  to  have  his  money  dis- 
charged, which  I  had  attached  in  Venice  for  my  said  pension,  and  thereby 
my  own  purse  was  not  yet  ready  for  the  Greek  pilot. 

"And,  nevertheless,  hoping  that  my  said  suit  would  have  shortly  a  good 

♦  To  the  Illustrious  Mic/iacl  Lock,  Englishman,  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Lazaro,  English  merchant,  in 

Saint  Thomas  street,  Venice. 

Most  Illostriohs  Sir:  Your  letier  was  received  by  me  on  the  20lh  of  September,  by  which  I 
am  informed  of  what  you  communicate.  1  have  a  mind  to  comply  with  my  promise  to  you; 
and  have  not  only  myself,  but  twenty  men,  (brave  men,  too,)  whom  I  can  carry  with  me;  so,  f 
am  waiting  for  another  letter  from  you,  about  the  money  which  I  asked  you  to  send  me.  For, 
you  know  well,  sir,  how  I  became  poor,  in  consequence  o(  Captain  Candish's  having  taken 
from  me  more  than  sixty  thousand  ducats,  as  you  know.  If  you  will  send  me  what  I  asked,  I 
will  go  with  you,  as  well  as  all  my  companions.  I  expect  no  more  from  your  kindness,  or  from 
the  tenor  of  your  letter.    Gk>d.  preserve  you,  most  illustrious  sir,  for  many  years. 

Your  friend  and  servant, 

JUAN  FUCA. 

Cepoalonia,  September  24, 1596. 


end, I  w 
ofNover 
1  dated  th< 
he  wrote 
1st  of  Al 
in  Lond 
perforin 
South  S< 
former  w 
he  was  u 
from  Chi 
wrote  hii 
a  letter  v 
the  whic 
into  Eng 
passage  i 
of  Nova  I 
I  will  se 
money  I 
sion  owii 
I  staid  ai 
"  And 
1602,  mil 
recoverec 
Lords  of 
Greek  pi 
go  with 
as  I  hear 
great  sic 
Venice,  a 
where  I 
absence  1 
pany  of 
for  the  w 


Thinslati 
ish  con 
comma 
then  ly 

In  ord( 
ages,  and 
port  in 
inform  ni 


211 


ledais  embiarmi 
hallais  otra  coi- 
Sennor  Eleazar 
enisia.  Y  Dios 
er  dia  de  Julio, 


OCK,  Ingles. 

ship  Cherubin ; 

and  also  a  third 

And  unto  my 

which  came  not 

ly  hands ;  which 


•  Lasaro,  merca- 
?sia. 

!0  dias  del  mese 
tengho  animo  de 
tengo  vinte  hom- 
tes ;  y  assi  estoi 
biais  los  dinieros 
10  io  vine  pover, 
e  ducados,  como 
tf.  con  todos  mis 
e  carta  de  V.  M. 
ie  V.  M.  muchos 


FUAN  FUCA. 

the  16th  day  of 
Turkey  was  not 
England  at  the 
his  money  dis- 
lion,  and  thereby 

ve  shortly  a  good 


English  merchant,  in 

eptember,  by  which  I 
my  promise  to  you; 

carry  with  me;  so,  I 
rou  to  send  me.  For, 
ndish's  having  taken 
id  me  what  I  asked,  I 
our  kindness,  or  from 

years. 

JUAN  FUCA. 


end,  I  wrote  another  letter  to  this  Greek  pilot  from  Venice,  dated  the  20th 
of  November,  1596,  which  came  not  to  his  hands ;  and,  also,  another  letter, 
dated  the  24th  of  January,  1596,  which  came  to  his  hands.  And  thereof 
he  wrote  me  answer,  dated  tlie  28th  of  May,  1597,  which  I  received  the 
1st  of  August,  1697,  by  Thomas  Norden,  an  English  merchant,  yet  living 
in  London,  wherein  he  promised  still  to  go  with  me  unto  England,  to 
perform  the  said  voyage  for  discovery  of  the  northwest  passage  into  the 
South  Sea,  if  I  would  send  him  money  for  his  charges,  according  to  his 
former  writing,  without  which  money  he  said  he  could  not  go,  for  that  as 
he  was  undone  utterly  when  he  was  in  the  ship  Santa  Anna,  which  came 
from  China,  and  was  robbed  at  Cahfornia.  And  yet  again  afterward  I 
wrote  him  another  letter  from  Venice,  whereunto  he  wrote  me  answer  by 
a  letter  written  in  his  Greek  language,  dated  the  20th  of  October,  1598, 
the  which  I  have  still  by  me,  wherein  he  promiseth  still  to  go  with  me 
into  England,  and  perform  the  said  voyage  of  discovery  of  the  northwest 
passage  into  the  South  Sea  by  the  said  straits,  which  he  calleth  the  Strait 
of  Nova  Spania,  which  he  saith  is  but  thirty  days'  voyage  in  the  straits,  if 
I  will  send  him  the  money  formerly  written  for  his  charges ;  the  which 
money  I  could  not  yet  send  him,  for  that  1  had  not  yet  recovered  my  pen- 
sion owing  me  by  the  company  of  Turkey  aforesaid ;  and  so,  of  long  time, 
I  staid  any  further  proceeding  with  him  in  this  matter. 

"  And  yet,  lastly,  when  I  myself  was  at  Zante  in  the  month  of  June, 
1602,  minding  to  pass  from  thence  for  England  by  sea,  for  that  I  had  then 
recovered  a  little  money  from  the  company  of  Turkey,  by  an  order  of  the 
Lords  of  the  Privy  Cn"ncil  of  England,  I  wrote  another  letter  to  this 
Greek  pilot  to  CephaU'u:  '*nf\  required  him  to  come  to  me  to  Zante,  and 
go  with  me  into  Englf'r. .  .t  *  had  no  answer  thereof  from  him ;  for  that, 
as  I  heard  afterward  at »  '  ,  he  was  then  dead,  or  very  likely  to  die  of 
great  sickness.  Whereupon,  I  returned  myself  by  sea  from  Zante  to 
Venice,  and  from  thence  I  went  by  land  through  France  into  England, 
where  I  arrived  at  Christmas,  aimo  1602;  safely,  I  thank  God,  after  my 
absence  from  thence  ten  years'  time,  with  great  troubles  had  for  the  com- 
pany of  Turkey's  business,  which  hath  cost  me  a  great  sum  of  money, 
for  the  which  I  am  not  yet  satisfied  of  them." 


D. 

OCCURRENCES  AT  NOOTKA  SOUND  IN  1789  AND  1792. 

(I.) 

Translation  of  a  letter  from  Dan  J.  F.  de  la  Bodega  y  Quadra,  the  Span- 
ish commandant  at  Nootka  Sound,  to  Captains  Gray  and  Ingrahaniy 
commanding  the  American  merchant  vessels  Columbia  and  Washington^ 
then  lying  in  that  harbor. 

Nootka,  August  2, 1792. 

In  order  to  satisfy  the  Court  of  England,  as  is  just,  for  the  injury,  dam- 
ages, and  usurpation,  which  it  conceives  itself  to  have  sustained  at  this 
port  in  the  year  1789, 1  have  to  request  of  you,  gentlemen,  the  favor  to 
inform  me,  with  that  sincerity  which  distinguishes  you,  and  which  is 


212] 

conformable  with  truth  and  honor,  wherefore  Don  Esteban  Jose  Martinez 
seized  the  vessels  of  Colnett,  the  Iphigenia  and  the  Northwest  Auicvica? 
What  establishment  or  building  did  Mr.  Meares  have,  on  the  arrival  of 
the  Spaniards?  What  territories  are  those  which  he  says  that  he  pur- 
chased from  Maquinna,  Yuquiniarri,  or  any  other  chief  of  these  tribes? 
With  what  objects  were  the  crew  of  the  Northwest  America  transferred 
to  the  Columbia;  and  were  ninety-six  skins  placed  on  board  that  ship? 
Finally,  what  was  the  whole  amount  of  skins  carried  by  you  to  China, 
and  to  whom  did  they  belong?* 

Your  most  obedient  and  assured  servant, 

JUAN  FRANCISCO  DE  LA  BODEGA  Y  QUADRA. 

To  Captains  Robert  Gray  and  Joseph  Ingraham. 


(2.) 

Reply  to  the  preceding  letter.^ 

NooTKA  Sound,  August  3, 1792. 

Sir:  Your  esteemed  favor  was  handed  to  us  yesterday, requesting  from 
us  information  relative  to  the  transactions  between  the  English  and  Span- 
iards in  this  sound  in  the  year  1789,  which  we  will  do  with  great  pleas- 
ure, and  impartially,  as  you  request. 

On  the  5th  of  May,  1789,  when  Don  Estevan  Jose  Martinez  arrived  in 
Friendly  Cove,  he  found  riding  at  anchoi-  there  the  Iphigenia  only;  the 
ship  Columbia  being  at  Mahwhinna,  five  miles  up  the  sound.  The  sloop 
Washington  and  Northwest  America  (schooner)  were  on  a  cruise.  This 
information  is  necessary  in  order  to  regulate  the  sequel  of  the  present.  After 
the  usual  ceremonies  of  meeting  were  over,  Don  Martinez  requested  the 
papers  of  each  vessel,  and  demanded  why  they  were  at  anchor  in  Nootka 
Sound,  alleging  it  belonged  to  his  Catholic  Majesty.  Captain  Viana, 
who  passed  as  commander  of  the  Iphigenia,  answered,  they  had  put  in, 
being  in  distress,  having  but  little  provisions,  and  in  great  want  of  every 
necessary,  such  as  cables,  anchors,  rigging,  sails,  «fcc. ;  that  they  were  in 
daily  expectation  of  the  arrival  of  Captain  Meares  from  Macao  to  supply 
them,  when  they  should  depart.^  Captain  Meares  was  expected  to  return 
in  the  same  vessel  he  sailed  in  from  hence  in  the  year  1788,  which  was 
under  the  Portuguese  colors,  and  had  a  Portuguese  captain  on  bottrd ; 
this  vessel  with  the  Iphigenia  were  said  to  belong  to  one  Cravalia,  or  Ca- 
vallo,  a  merchant  of  Macao,  in  whose  name  the  Iphigenia's  papers  were 
made  out.  Seeing  the  Iphigenia  was  in  such  want,  Don  Martinez  gave 
them  a  temporary  assistance,  by  supplying  them  with  such  articles  as  they 
were  most  in  want,  till  the  vessel  before  mentioned  should  arrive.  At  this 

*  The  original  letter  is  attached  tu  (he  Journal  of  Capiain  Ingraham,  which  is  now  in  the  of- 
fice of  the  Secretary  of  State,  at  Washington. 

t  Copied  from  Ingraham's  Journal.  This  letter  is  now  for  the  first  time  published.  An  incor- 
rect synopsis  of  it  may  be  found  in  the  Journal  ol  Vancouver's  Voyage,  vol.  i,  pas^e  38y.  Some 
of  the  discrepancies  between  which  and  the  letter  will  be  here  indu  aied  by  ih*-  nofs. 

*  Vancouver  renders  this  passage  as  follows:  "  Captain  Viana,  of  the  Portuguese  vessel,  an- 
swered, that  he  had  put  in  there  m  distress,  to  await  the  arrival  of  Capta(n  Meares  from  Ma- 
cao;"  omitting,  as  he  does  throuzhout  his  synopsis,  ail  the  pariiculars  calculaied  to  show  ihe 
miserable  condiiiun  of  the  Iphigenia,  and  the  extent  of  the  assistance  afforded  by  the  Spaniardti. 


iards. 


*ii3 


Jose  Martinez 
vest  Aiiiuica? 
the  arrival  of 
s  that  he  pur- 
'  these  tribes  ? 
ica  transferred 
>ard  that  ship  ? 
you  to  China, 


dUADRA. 


^ust  3, 1792. 

equesting  from 
jlish  and  Span- 
ith  great  pleas- 

inez  arrived  in 

enia  only,  the 

nd.    The  sloop 

I  cruise.     This 

3  present.  After 

I  requested  the 

chor  in  Nootka 

Captain  Viana, 

ley  had  put  in, 

t  want  of  every 

at  they  were  in 

lacao  to  supply 

jected  to  return 

r88,  which  was 

tain  on  botird ; 

ravalia,  or  Ca- 

a's  papers  were 

Martinez  gave 

articles  as  they 

arrive.  At  this 

icli  is  now  in  ihe  of- 

ublished.  An  incor- 
i,  pa-^e  381).  Some 
r  ihe  notes. 
iriufiue.Ne  vessel,  an- 
1  Meares  Ironi  Ma- 
Iculaied  to  show  ihe 
id  by  the  Spaniards. 


fi 


time  there  was  not  the  least  suspicion  of  any  misunderstanding  or  disturb- 
ance among  us,  as  Don  Martinez  was  apparently  satisfied  with  the  an- 
swers each  vessel  had  given  to  his  request. 

However,  on  the  10th  of  May,  the  San  Carlos,  Captain  Arrow,  [Haro,] 
arrived.  The  same  day  the  American  officers  came  to  Uquot,  or  Friendly 
Cove,  to  welcome  them  in,  and  the  next  morning,  the  11th  of  May,  Don 
Martinez  captured  the  Iphigenia,  and  his  reason,  as  we  understood,  was, 
that,  in  their  Portuguese  instructions,  they  had  orders  to  capture  any 
English,  Spanish,  or  Russian  subjects  they  met  on  the  northwest  coast 
of  America.  This,  at  the  time,  seemed  improbable,  as  she  was  a  vessel 
of  small  force,  and  it  was  afterwards  found  to  have  been  a  mistake,  ow- 
ing to  their  want  of  a  perfect  knowledge  of  the  Portuguese  language. 
However,  after  the  vessel  was  taken,  the  officers  and  seamen  were  di- 
vided, some  on  board  the  Princesa,  and  some  on  board  the  San  Carlos, 
where  they  were  treated  wi''  all  imaginable  kindness  and  every  attention 
paid  them. 

*  On  the  24th  of  May  the  abovementioned  mistake  being  discovered,  the 
Iphigenia  was  returned  again  and  the  Portuguese  flag  hoisted  on  board 
her;  the  same  day.  Captain  Douglas,  with  the  Portuguese  captain  and  sea- 
men, repaired  on  board.  The  Iphigenia,  while  in  possession  of  the  Span- 
iards, from  being  a  wreck  was  put  in  complete  order  for  sea,  being  calked, 
rigging  and  sails  repaired,  anchors  and  cables  sent  from  the  Princesa,  &c. 
On  the  26th  Don  Martinez  supplied  them  with  every  kind  of  provisions 
they  were  in  need  of,  for  which  Captain  Douglas  gave  him  bills  on  Cra- 
vallia,  the  beforementioncd  merchant  of  Macao.  On  the  31st  the  Iphi- 
genia sailed,  and  was  saluted  by  the  Spanish  fort ;  and  the  commodore  ac- 
companied them  out  of  the  harbor,  giving  every  assistance  Avith  boats,  &c. 
When  Captain  Douglas  took  his  leave  of  the  commodore,  he  declared  he 
should  ever  entertain  a  sense  of  Don  Martinez's  kindness,  deeming  his 
conduct  relative  to  the  vessel  no  more  than  his  duty  as  a  king's  officer. 
Upon  the  whole,  we  both  believe  the  Iphigenia's  being  detained  was  of 
infinite  service  to  those  who  were  concerned  in  her.  This  must  be  plain 
to  every  one  who  will  consider  the  situation  of  the  vessel  when  the  Prin- 
cesa arrived,  and  the  advantages  reaped  from  the  supplies  and  assistance 
of  the  Spaniards.  The  detention,  if  it  may  be  called  so,  could  be  no  det- 
riment ;  for,  had  nothing  taken  place,  she  must  have  remained  two  months- 
longer  at  least,  having,  as  has  already  been  mentioned,  put  into  port,  be- 
ing in  distress ;  of  course  they  could  not  have  sailed  till  supplies  arrived, 
which  was  not  till  July,  as  will  appear  in  the  sequel ;  whereas,  being 
early  fitted  as  above  mentioned,  she  sailed  on  the  coast  northward  of 
Nootka  Sound,  and  there  being  no  other  vessel  there,  they  collected  up- 
wards of  seven  hundred  sea-otter  skins ;  which  has  been  often  represent- 
ed to  us  by  Captain  Douglas  and  his  officers,  after  our  arri  ral  in  China. 
This  may  suffice  for  the  transactions  relative  to  the  Iphigenia.  Before 
Captain  Douglas  sailed,  he  gave  Don  Estevan  Martinez  a  letter  to  Mr> 
Funter,  master  of  the  schooner  Northwest  America,  telling  him,  from  Cap- 

♦  Of  the  whole  of  this  paragraph,  all  that  is  said  by  Vancouver  is:  "The  vessel  and  cargo 
were  liberated,  and  Martinez  supplied  the  Iphigenia's  wants  from  the  Princesa,  enxibling  her, 
by  so  doing,  to  prosecute  her  voyage  without  wailing  for  the  return  of  Mr.  Meares."  The  ex- 
tremity of  distress  to  which  the  Iphigenia  was  reduced  on  her  arrival  at  Nootka,  the  seven  hun- 
dred sea-otter  skins,  and  the  otner  advantages  derived  by  her  owners  from  the  supplies  fui- 
nished  by  the  Spanish  commandant,  are  carefully  kept  out  of  sight. 
15 


314 

tain  Meares  not  arriving  at  the  appointed  time,  there  was  great  reason  to 
fear  the  vessel  he  sailed  from  Nootita  in  had  never  reached  China,  (she  be- 
ing in  bad  condition  when  she  sailed  from  this  place ;)  therefore,  as  he, 
Mr.  Punter,  must,  on  his  arrival,  be  destitute  of  every  necessary,  he  was 
at  liberty  to  conduct  as  he  thought  most  conducive  to  the  interests  of  his 
employers.     We  shall  make  mention  of  this  vessel  again  hereafter. 

Interim,  we  observe  your  wish  to  be  acquainted  what  house  or  es:tab- 
lishment  Mr.  Meares  had  at  the  time  the  Spaniards  arrived  here?  We 
answer  in  a  word — none.  On  the  arrival  of  the  Columbia  in  the  year 
1788,  thii  '  was  a  house,  or  rather  a  hut,  consisting  of  rough  posts 
covered  \\d\\  boards  made  by  the  Indians;  but  this  Captain  Douglas 
pulled  to  pieces  prior  to  his  sailing  for  the  Sandwich  Islands  the  same 
year.  The  boards  he  took  on  board  the  Iphigenia,  and  the  roof  he  gave 
to  Captain  Kendrick,  which  was  cut  up  and  used  as  firewood  on  board  the 
Columbia;  so  that,  on  the  arrival  of  Don  Estevan  J.  Martinez,  there  was 
no  vestige  of  any  house  remaining.  As  to  the  land  Mr.  Meares  said  he 
purchased  of  Maquinna  or  any  other  chief,  we  cannot  say  further  than 
we  never  heard  of  any;  although  we  remained  among  these  people  nine 
months,  and  could  converse  with  them  perfectly  well.  Besides  this,  we 
have  asked  Maquinna  and  other  chiefs,  since  our  late  arrival,  if  Captain 
Meares  ever  purchased  any  land  in  Nootka  Sound  ;  they  answered — no, 
that  Captain  Kendrick  was  the  only  man  to  whom  they  had  ever  sold 
any  land. 

On  the  8th  of  June  the  schooner  Northwest  America  arrived,  and  the 
next  day  the  Spaniards  took  possession  of  her.     Don  E.  J.  Martinez  had 
an  account  taken  of  the  property  on  board,  particularly  of  the  skins, 
which  he  said  should  be  given  to  the  officers  and  seamen,  that  they 
might  be  sure  of  their  wages.     On  the  16th  of  June  the  sloop  I^rincess 
Royal  arrived  from  Macao,  commanded  by  Thomas  Hudson ;  this  vessel 
brought  accounts  of  the  safe  arrival  of  Captain  Meares,  and  that  Captain 
Colnett  was  coming  on  the  coast,  conmiodoro  of  the  English  trading-ves- 
sels from  Macao,  for  the  ensuing  season,  in  a  snow  named  the  Argonaut. 
Mr.  Hudson  likewise  brought  accounts  of  the  failure  of  Juan  Cravallia 
&  Co.,  merchants  of  Macao  before  mentioned.     What  right  the  conmio- 
dore  had  to  detain  the  Northwest  America  before,  it  is  not  for  us  to  say ; 
but  he  always  said  it  was  an  agreement*  between  Captain  Douglas  and 
himself;  but,  after  the  arrival  of  this  vessel  with  the  above  news,  he  held 
her  as  security  for  the  bills  of  exchange  drawn  on  said  Cravallia  6c  Co. 
in  favor  of  his  Catholic  Majesty :  this  we  have  heard  him  say.     On  the 
2d  of  July  the  Princess  Royal  sailed  out  of  the  port,  having,  to  our 
knowledge,  been  treated  by  the  commodore  and  his  officers  with  every 
possible  attention,  which  Captain  Hudson  himself  seemed  conscious  of 
and  grateful  for.     Prior  to  this  vessel's  sailing,  the  commodore  gave  to 
Mr.  Funterf  all  the  skins  he  brought  in,  in  the  Northwest  America,  which 
were  shipped  on  board  the  sloop  Princess  Royal  by  Mr.  Funter,  for  his 
own  account.     In  the  evening  of  the  2d  a  sail  was  descried  from  the 
Spanish  fort ;  we  were  among  the  first  that  went  out  to  meet  them ;  it 
proved  to  be  the  Argonaut,  Captain  Colnett,  before  mentioned.     The 
transactions  of  this  vessel  were  such,  that  we  can  give  the  sense  of  them 


*  Of  this  supposed  agrecvicnt  Vancouver  says  nothing. 
t  Nothing  of  this  in  Vancouver's  synopsis. 


215 


»reat  reason  to 
ihina,  (she  be- 
lerefore,  as  he, 
essaiy,  he  was 
interests  of  his 
ereaftor. 
louse  or  es:tab- 
Rd  here?    We 
»ia  in  the  year 
f  rough  posts 
ptain  Douglas 
lands  the  same 
le  roof  he  gave 
)d  on  board  the 
inez,  tliere  was 
Meares  said  he 
ly  further  than 
ise  people  nine 
esides  this,  we 
■ival,  if  Captain 
answered — no, 
{  had  ever  sold 

irrived,  and  the 
].  Martinez  liad 
y  of  the  skins, 
men,  that  they 
t  sloop  Princess 
;on ;  this  vessel 
nd  that  Captain 
ish  trading-ves- 
i  the  Argonaut. 

Juan  Cravallia 
r\it  the  conuno- 
)t  for  us  to  say ; 
in  Douglas  and 
0  news,  he  held 
Cravallia  &  Co. 
n  say.     On  the 

having,  to  our 
Lcers  with  every 
led  conscious  of 
niodore  gave  to 

America,  which 
.  Funter,  for  his 
iscried  from  the 

meet  them ;  it 
lentioned.  The 
le  sense  of  them 


in  a  few  words,  that  may  answer  every  purpose  of  the  particulars,  many 
of  which  ai'e  not  innnediatoly  to  the  point,  or  tending  to  what  we  suppose 
you  wish  to  know. 

It  seems  Captain  Meares,  with  some  other  Englishmen  at  Macao,  had 
concluded  to  erect  a  fort  and  settle  a  colony  in  Nootka  Sound  ;  fronj 
what  authority  we  cannot  say.  However,  on  the  arrival  of  the  Argonaut, 
we  heard  Captain  Colnett  inform  the  Spanish  commodore  he  had  conn 
for  (hat  purpose,  and  to  hoist  the  British  flag,  take  formal  possession,  &c 
To  which  the  commodore  answered,  ho  had  taken  possesssion  already  in 
the  name  of  his  Catholic  Majesty  ;  on  which.  Captain  Colnett  asked  if  he 
would  be  prevented  from  building  a  house  in  the  port.  The  commodore, 
mistaking  his  meaning,  answered  him,  he  was  at  liberty  to  erect  a  tent, 
got  wood  and  water,  &.c.,  after  which  he  was  at  liberty  to  depart  when  he 
pleased  ;  but  Captain  Colnett  said  that  was  not  what  he  Avanted,  but  to 
build  a  block-house,  erect  a  fort,  and  settle  a  colony  for  the  Crown  of 
Great  Britain.  Don  Estevau  Jose  Martinez  answered  fin;  that,  in  doing 
that,  he  should  violate  the  orders  of  his  King,  run  a  risk  of  losing  his 
commission,  and,  not  only  that,  but  it  would  be  relinquishing  the  Span- 
iards' claim  to  the  coast;  besides,  Don  Martinez  observed,  the  vessels  did 
not  belong  to  the  King,  nor  was  he  intrusted  with  powers  to  transact 
such  public  business.  On  which.  Captain  Colnett  answered,  he  was  a 
King's  olFicer;  but  Don  Estevan  replied,  his  being  in  the  navy  was  of  no 
consequence  in  the  business.  *  In  conversing  on  the  subject,  after  the 
arrival  of  the  vessel  in  port,  it  seems  Captain  Colnett  insulted  the  com- 
modore by  threatening  him,  and  drew  his  sword  in  the  Princesa's  cabin  ; 
on  which  Don  Martinez  ordered  the  vessel  to  be  seized.  We  did  not  see 
him  draw  his  sword,  but  were  informed  of  the  circumstance  by  those 
whose  veracity  we  had  no  reason  to  doubt.  After  seizing  the  Argonaut, 
the  sloop  Princess  Royal  arrived  a  second  time ;  and,  as  she  belonged  to 
the  same  company,  the  commodore  took  possession  of  her  also.  With  re- 
spect to  the  treatment  of  the  prisoners,  altliough  we  have  not  perused  Mr. 
Mearcs's  publication,  we  presume  none  of  them  will  be  backward  in  con- 
fessing that  Don  E.  J.  Martinez  always  treated  them  very  kindly,  Oiid  all 
his  ofHcers  consistent  with  the  character  of  gentlemen. 

Having  acquainted  you  with  the  principal  part  of  the  business,  agree- 
able to  request,  one  thing  remains  to  answer — which  is,  of  the  captain,  oi- 
ficers,  and  seamen  of  the  Northwest  America.  You  ask  if  we  carried 
them  to  China  ?  We  did,  and  with  them  one  hundred  sea-otter  skins, 
the  value  of  which  we  judge,  independent  of  freight,  was  $4,875 ;  these 
were  delivered  to  Mr.  Meares,  and  were,  we  suppose,  his  property.  We 
sincerely  hope,  sir,  when  things  are  represented  with  truth,  it  will  rescue 
our  friend  Don  Estevan  J.  Maitinez  from  censure ;  at  least,  that  he  may 
not  be  deemed  an  impostor  and  a  pirate,  which  many,  from  only  hearing 
one  part  of  the  story,  supposed  he  was.  As  to  the  treatment  of  the  Ameri- 
cans by  Don  Estevan,  wo  liave  ever  testified  it  in  terms  due  to  such  hos- 
pitality, and  are  happy  again  to  have  it  in  our  power  to  do  what  we  deem 

*  Vancouver  here  writes,  using  the  first  person  as  if  copying  the  words  of  the  American 
captains:  "  In  conversation  afterwards  on  this  suhjoct,  as  we  were  informed,  (say  these  gentle- 
men,) for  we  were  not  present  during  this  transaction,  some  dispute  arose  in  the  Princesa';; 
cabin;  on  which  Don  Martinez  ordered  the  Argonaut  to  be  seized.  Snon  after  this  the  Prin- 
cess Royal  returned,"  ^c.  Tlie  rumor  that  "  ColmU  insnlted  the  commodore  by  threatening  him, 
and  drew  his  sword  in  the  Princesa's  cabin,"  being  omitted. 


216 

justice  to  his  conduct.  While  speaking  of  others  of  your  nation,  we  can 
never  be  unmindful  of  you ;  your  kind  reception  and  treatment  of  us  has 
made  an  impression  that  will  not  be  easily  erased ;  and  we  hope  you  will 
bear  in  mind  how  very  sincerely  we  are,  sir,  your  most  humble  servants, 

ROBERT  GRAY, 
JOSEPH  INGRAHAM. 
To  Don  Juan  Francisco  de  la  Bodega  y  Quadra. 


if 


I 


E. 

RESPECTING     THE     SUPPOSED     SETTLEMENT     OP     BOUNDARIES     BETWEEN 

the  french  and  british  possessions  in  america,  agreeably  to 
the  provisions  to  that  effect  in  the  treaty  of  utrecht, 
(see  page  150.) 

No  allusion  to  the  settlement  of  boundaries  between  the  British  and 
French  possessions  in  America,  agreeably  to  the  tenth  article  of  the  treaty 
concluded  at  Utrecht,  in  1714,  or  to  the  appointment  of  commissaries  for 
that  purpose,  has  been  found  in  any  of  the  following  works,  which  have 
been  all  carefully  examined  with  reference  to  the  subject,  viz  : 

Corps  Diplomatique,  by  Dumont ;  Collection  de Traites,  by  Martens ;  Col- 
lections of  British  Treaties,  by  Wilkinson  and  Hertslet ;  Actes,  Memoires, 
&c.,  concernant  la  Paix  d'Utrecht ;  Actes,  Negociations,  &c.,  depuis  la  Paix 
d'Utrecht,  by  Rousset ;  Memoires  des  Commissaires  Anglais  et  Frany ais, 
(fcc,  published  in  1754;  Collection  des  Edits,  Ordonnances,&c., concern- 
ant le  Canada ;  Histoire  de  la  Louisiane,  by  Dupratz ;  Histoire  de  la  Louis- 
iane,  by  Marbois ;  Memoire  sur  la  Louisiane,  by  Dumont ;  Memoire  sur 
la  Louisiane,  by  Vergennes ;  Histoire  des  Indes,  A-c,  byRaynal;  the 
Encyclopedic  Methodique ;  Histories  of  England,  by  Smollett,  Belsham, 
Lord  Mahon,  and  Wade ;  Parliamentary  History  of  England ;  History  of 
the  British  Empire  in  America,  by  Wynne ;  History  of  Hudson's  Bay,  by 
Dobbs;  Beyer's  Political  State — the  volume  for  1721  contains  memoirs  of 
Louisiana,  and  a  map  of  that  country  ;  American  Traveller,  by  Cluny ; 
the  large  historical  and  geographical  atlas  by  Mitchell  and  Senex,  pub- 
lished at  London  in  1721,  containing  particular  accounts  and  maps  of  the 
British  and  the  French  possessions  in  America ;  Civil  and  Natural  History 
of  the  French  Dominions  in  America,  by  Jeffries — a  comprehensive  work, 
containing  numerous  maps,  published  in  1760;  American  atlas,  by  Jef- 
fries, published  in  1778;  Alcedo's  Dictionary  of  America;  map  of  North 
America,  (the  largest  and  most  beautiful  ever  published,)  by  Henry  Pop- 
ple, which  appeared  in  1738,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Colonial  Depart- 
ment of  Great  Britain  ;  map  of  America,  published  in  1794  from  the  ma- 
terials of  Governor  Pownal ; — or  in  any  other  works  or  maps  which  could 
be  considered  as  authorities  on  the  subject,  except  those  now  to  be  men- 
tioned. 

Charlevoix,  in  his  Histoire  de  la  Nouvelle  France,*  says  that  commis- 
saries were  appointed  in  1719  by  the  Governments  of  Great  Britain  and 


*  Alluding  lo  disputes  between  the  British  and  the  Indians  in  Nova  Scotia,  Charlevoix  says, 
(vol.  iv,  page  124:)  "La  France  n'entrait  point  dans  ce  demele,  pour  ne  point  doiiner  le  moindie 
pretcxte  de  rompre  la  bonne  intelligence  qu'il  avail  tant  coute  de  rClablir,  enire  les  deux  Cou- 
ronnes ;  on  ccs.ia  memc  de  nesiocier  dans  les  deux  Cours,  le  reglement  des  limites,  quoique  des  I'annec 
1715)  il  y  eut  des  commissaires  nommesj)our  cela  depart  et  d'autre," 


217 


nation,  we  can 
nent  of  us  has 
hope  you  will 
mble  servants, 
3RAY, 
^GRAHAM. 


lES     BETWEEN 

AGREEABLY   TO 

OP    UTllECHT. 

he  British  and 
;le  of  the  treaty 
snimissaries  for 
ks,  which  have 
viz : 

Y  Martens ;  Col- 
ctes,  Memoires, 
,,depuis  laPaix 
ais  et  Franyais, 
s,«fcc.,concern- 
)ire  de  la  Louis- 
-,  Memoire  sur 
)y  Raynal ;  the 
ollett,  Belsham, 
ind ;  History  of 
idson's  Bay,  by 
lins  memoirs  of 
Her,  by  Cluny ; 
id  Senex,  pub- 
md  maps  of  the 
Natural  History 
rehensive  work, 
m  atlas,  by  Jef- 
;  map  of  North 
by  Henry  Pop- 
'olonial  Depart- 
)4  from  the  ma- 
ips  which  could 
now  to  be  men- 

|rs  that  commis- 
reat  Britain  and 


tia,  Charlevoix  saya, 

Qt  doiiner  le  moindie 

enire  les  deux  Cou- 

s,  quoiqvje  des  Vannec 


France  to  determine  the  limits  between  the  possessions  of  the  two  Powers 
in  America;  but  that  all  negotiations  on  that  subject  ended  in  172*2,  in 
consequence  of  the  desire  of  those  Courts  to  avoid  causes  of  dissatisfac- 
tion. Whether  or  not  any  settlement  of  boundaries  was  effected,  he  does 
not  directly  say ;  but  from  his  language  it  is  lo  be  inferred  that  those  ques- 
tions were  left  undetermined.  In  the  maps  attached  to  his  work,  no  line 
appears  as  the  limit  between  the  Hudson's  Bay  territory  and  the  posses 
sions  of  France. 

The  Dictionary  of  Commerce,  translated  by  M.  Postlewhaite  from  the 
French  of  Savary,  with  alterations  and  amendments,  and  published  in 
1751 ,  contains  no  allusion  to  the  southern  limits  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  ter- 
ritories, although  a  large  portion  of  the  work  is  devoted  to  the  subject 
of  the  British  and  French  possessions  in  America ;  but  in  the  large  map 
of  America,  attached  to  the  Dictionary,  which  is  there  stated  to  have  been 
copied,  with  corrections,  from  one  then  recently  published  at  Paris  (in 
1746)  by  D'Anville,  a  line  is  laid  down  as  the  limit  between  the  Hudson's 
Bay  countries  and  the  French  dominions.  The  part  of  this  line  extend- 
ing north  and  northwest  of  Lake  Superior,  runs  nearly,  but  not  exactly, 
along  the  49th  parallel ;  and  a  note  on  the  map  says  "  the  line  that  parts 
French  Canada  from  British  Canada  was  settled  hy  commissaries  after  the 
peace  of  Utrecht,  ma/cinr>-  a  curve  from  Davis's  Inlet,  in  the  Atlantic  Sea, 
down  to  the  Lake  Abitibis,  to  the  Northwest  Ocean;  therefore  M.  D^Anville's 
dotted  line  east  of  James's  Bay  is  false."  No  copy  of  D'Anville's  map 
has  been  found  ;  but  the  above  note  appears  to  show  that  the  line  west  of 
James's  Bay  is  given  by  Postlewhaite  as  represented  by  the  French  ge- 
ographer. 

Postlewhaite's  assertion  is,  however,  directly  contradicted  by  John 
Mitchell,  whose  large  map  of  America,  published  in  1755,  under  the  im- 
mediate patronage  of  the  Colonial  Department  of  Great  Britain,  is  gener- 
ally considered  as  the  best  authority  with  regard  to  the  political  geography 
of  America,  at  that  period.  In  this  map,  a  line  drawn  irregularly  from  the 
Atlantic  along  the  highlands,  or  supposed  highlands,  dividing  the  waters 
falling  into  Hudson's  Bay  from  those  emptying  into  the  great  lakes,  the 
St.  liawrence,  or  the  Mississippi,  is  given  as  "  the  bounds  of  Hudsori's  Bay 
by  the  treaty  of  Utrecht."  This  line  runs  around  Hudson's  Bay,  nearly  at 
the  same  distance  from  the  shores  of  that  sea  only,  in  its  whole  course ;  and 
a  very  small  part  of  it  passes  as  far  south  as  the  49th  parallel.  The  boun- 
dary, thus  given  by  Mitchell,  is  adopted  in  the  map  prefixed  to  Russell 'k 
History  of  America,  in  those  published  by  Bennet  in  1770,  by  Faden  in 
1777,  and  in  other  maps. 

Ta  a  map  of  the  British  possessions  in  America,  as  settled  by  the  treaty 
of  1703,  published  at  London  in  1775  by  Eman  Bowen  and  John  Gib- 
son, a  line  running  along  the  49th  parallel,  from  a  point  immediately 
south  of  the  southern  extremity  of  James's  Bay,  westward  to  the  Red 
River,  and  then  northward,  down  that  stream,  to  Lake  Winnipeg,  is  given 
as  the  southern  limit  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  territory,  agreeably  to  the 
treaty  of  Utrecht;  and  this  is  the  earliest  distinct  declaration  which  has 
been  discovered  of  the  adoption  of  any  part  of  that  parallel  precisely,  as  a 
boundary  in  North  America. 

Thus  it  appears  that  all  the  most  accredited  authorities,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  Mitchell,  are  against  the  supposition  that  any  boundary  between 
the  British  and  the  French  dominions  in  America  Avas  settled  agreeably 


218 


II 


II 'I ' 


Im 


> 


to  the  treaty  of  Utrecht ;  and  that  Mitchell  represents  the  Hudson's  Bay 
territories  as  separated  from  the  French  possessions  hy  an  irregular  Ihu; 
'irawn  along  the  course  of  the  highlands  surrounding,  or  supposed  to  sur- 
round, that  sea. 

In  support  of  the  opinion  that  no  such  boundary  was  settled,  may  be 
cited  the  following  remarks  upon  that  article,  extracted  from  Anderson's 
(elaborate  History  of  Commerce,  vol.  iii,  page  267:  "  Though  the  French 
King  yielded  to  theUueen  of  Great  Britain,  to  be  possessed  by  her  in  fidl 
right,  for  ever,  the  Bay  and  Straits  of  Hudson,  and  all  parts  thenof,  and 
within  the  same,  then  p(3ssessed  by  France,  yet  leaving  the  boundaries 
between  Hudson's  Bay  and  the  north  parts  of  Canada  belonging  to  France, 
to  be  determined  by  commissaries  within  a  year,  was,  in  effect,  tiie  same 
thing  as  giving  up  the  point  altogether;  it  being  well  knoAvn  to  all  Europe, 
that  France  never  permits  her  commissaries  to  determine  matters  retcr- 
red  to  such,  unless  it  can  be  done  with  great  advantage  to  her.  Those 
boundaries,  therefore,  have  never  yet  been  settled,  though  both  British 
uid  French  subjects  are  by  that  article  expressly  debarred  from  passing 
over  the  same,  or  thereby  to  go  to  each  other  by  sea  or  land.  These  coni- 
juissarics  were  likewise  to  settle  the  boundaries  between  the  other  British 
and  French  colonies  on  that  continent;  which,  likewise,  was  never  done." 
The  correctness  of  the  concluding  part  of  these  remarks  is  well  knoAvn ; 
and  it  is  scarcely  probable  that  either  of  the  Powers  would  have  assented 
to  a  partial  determination  of  boundaries.  The  remarks  of  Anderson  are 
incorporated  in  Macpherson's  Annals  of  Commerce,  published  in  1805. 

Maps,  which  are  so  frequently  consulted  on  the  subject  of  boundaries, 
and  Avhich,  therefore,  ought  to  be  the  best  authorities,  are,  unfortunately, 
in  general  the  very  worst,  as  they  are  for  the  most  part  made  by  persons 
unacquainted  with  political  history.  Of  the  truth  of  this  assertion  innu- 
merable instances  might  be  adduced.  In  a  large  and  beautifully  engraved 
map  of  the  United  States,  published  at  Philadelphia  in  1821,  ''■from  the 

most  nndoultted  authorities^  by motfruphcr  and  dronsrhtsinan^'' 

the  northern  boundary  of  the  part  of  the  United  States  west  of  the  Missis- 
;:ippi,  is  represented  by  a  line  drawn  westward  from  the  sources  of  that 
river  nearly  under  the  latitude  of  47  degrees  and  40  minutes ;  the  country 
north  of  this  line  being  stated  to  be  "i/i  dispute  bitncvn  Spain  and  Great 
Britain.''^  Now,  three  years  before  this  map  appeared,  the  boundary  be- 
tween the  United  States  and  the  British  possessions  in  that  part  of  Ameri- 
ca, had  been  fixed  by  treaty ;  according  to  which,  the  dividing-line  followed 
the  course  of  the  49th  parallel ;  and  two  years  before  the  date  of  the  map, 
Spain  had  also,  by  treaty,  ceded  to  the  United  States  her  rights  to  all  ter- 
ritories in  America  north  of  the  42d  parallel.  These  treaties  had  been  jmb- 
lished ;  and  it  is  scarcely  credible  that  they  should  have  been  unknown 
to  an  American  geographer  engaged  in  preparing  a  map  of  the  United 
States.  The  French  have  made  great  use  of  maps,  and  have  had  maps 
made  for  use  in  their  negotiations  about  boundaries  with  Great  Britain. 
Books  of  geography  are  also  in  general  incorrect  as  regards  boundaries. 
In  the  EncyclopoRdia  of  Geography,  published  at  Edinburgh  in  1834,  by 
Hugh  Murray,  and  other  scientific  persons,  we  find  it  stated,  (page  1374,") 
that  "the  whole  region  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  extending  between 
the  42d  and  the  49th  parallels  of  latitude, //ws,  by  discovery  and  treaty,  been 
assigned  to  the  United  States."  A  statement  to  the  same  effect  may  bo 
found  in  the  London  (Quarterly  Review  for  January,  1822. 


Hudson's  Bay 
I  irregular  line 
ipposed  to  sur- 

icttled,  may  be 
m\  Anderson's 
gli  the  French 
I  by  hor  in  fidl 
ts  thereof,  and 
he  boundaries 
^ing  to  France, 
ffcct,  the  same 
1  to  all  Vjurope, 
!  matters  retbr- 
her.     Tliose 
both  British 
from  passing 
These  com- 
ic other  British 
IS  never  done." 
s  well  known  •, 
I  have  assented 
[■  Anderson  arc 
led  in  1805. 
of  boundaries, 
,  unfortunately, 
ade  by  persons 
assertion  innu- 
ifully  engraved 
B21,  ''from  the 
drrmsrlUsman^'' 
It  of  the  Missis- 
sources  of  that 
es ;  the  country 
'pain  and  Great 
e  boundary  be- 
t  part  of  Arneri- 
ig-line  followed 
late  of  the  map, 
rights  to  all  ter- 
s  had  been  pub- 
been  unknown 
I  of  the  United 
have  had  maps 
1  Great  Britain, 
rds  boundaries, 
rgh  in  1834,  by 
ed,  (page  1374,^ 
ending  between 
and  treaty,  been 
3  effect  may  bo 


219 

F. 

TnE.VTrRR  AND  COXVENTIONS  nRTWF,r,.V  TTTR  OOVERXMEXTS  OP  DIFFEU- 
ENT  NATIONS,  UKLATINO  TO  TUi;  NOHTllWEST  TElllUTOUIES  OK  NORTH 
AMERICA. 

(1.) 

Convention  hetirern  Great  Britain  and  Spain, sii>ned  at  tlie  Flsciirial,  Oc- 
tober 28, 1790,  may  be  found  at  length  in  the  Memoir,  page  111. 

(2.) 

Convention  between  the  United  States  of  America  and  Great  Britain,  signed 

at  London,  October  20, 1818. 


s  agreed  that  a  line  drawn  from  the  most  northwestern 


"  Art.  2.  It  i 
point  of  the  ijake  of  the  Woods,  along  the  4*.Hh  ])arallel  of  north  latitude, 
or,  if  the  said  point  shall  not  be  in  the  49th  parallel  of  north  latitude,  then 
that  a  line  drawn  from  the  said  point  due  north  or  south,  as  the  case  may 
be,  until  the  said  line  shall  intersect  the  said  parallel  of  north  latitude,  and 
from  the  point  of  such  intersection  due  west  along  and  with  the  said  par- 
allel, shall  be  the  lint;  of  demarcation  between  the  territories  of  the  Uni- 
ted States  and  those  of  his  Britannic  Majesty;  and  that  the  said  line  shall 
l!)rm  the  northern  boundary  of  the  said  territories  of  the  United  States, 
and  the  southern  boundary  of  the  territories  of  his  Britannic  Majesty,  from 
the  I^ako  (>f  the  Woods  to  the  Stony  Mountains. 

"  Art.  3.  It  is  agreed  that  any  country  that  may  be  claimed  by  either 
party  on  the  northwest  coast  of  America,  westward  of  the  Stony  Moun- 
tains, shall,  together  with  its  harbors,  bays,  and  creeks,  and  the  naviga- 
tion of  all  rivers  within  the  same,  be  free  and  open  for  the  term  of  ten 
years  from  the  date  of  the  signature  of  the  present  convention,  to  the  ves- 
sels, citizens,  and  subjects  of  the  two  PoAvers ;  it  being  well  understood 
that  this  agreement  is  not  to  be  construed  to  the  prejudice  of  any  claim 
which  either  of  the  two  high  contracting  parties  may  have  to  any  part  of 
the  said  country,  nor  shall  it  be  taken  to  affect  the  claims  of  any  other 
Power  or  State  to  any  part  of  the  said  country;  the  only  object  of  the 
high  contracting  parties,  in  that  respect,  being  to  prevent  disputes  and  dif- 
ferences among  themselves." 

(3.) 

'Treaty  of  amity,  settlement,  and  limits,  between  the  United  States  and 
Spain,  {commonlif  called  tite  Florida  Treaty^  signed  at  Washington, 
February  22,  ISid. 

"Art.  3.  The  boundary-line  between  the  two  countries,  west  of  the 
Mississippi,  shall  begin  on  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  at  the  mouth  of  the  River 
Sabine,  in  the  sea,  continuing  north,  along  the  western  bank  of  that  river, 
to  the  32d  degree  of  latitude ;  thence,  by  a  line  due  north,  to  the  degree 
of  latitude  where  it  strikes  the  Rio  lloxo  of  Natchitoclies,  or  Red  River  ; 
then,  following  the  course  of  the  Rio  Roxo  westward,  to  the  degree  of 
longitude  100  west  from  Loudon  and  23  from  Washington ;  then  crossing 


':'!   1 


iJ 


220 


the  sail!  lied  Rivor,  and  running  tlionro,  by  a  lino  due  north,  to  tlio  Uivcr 
Arkansas;  tiit'iiri!  lojlowing  the  cmirso  of'  th<'  sonthcrn  hiink  of  the  Ar- 
kansas to  its  sovirre  in  latitude  12  norlli ;  and  thence,  by  that  parallel  of 
latitude,  to  the  South  Sea;  tlie  whole  l)eini<  as  laid  down  in  iVielish's 
mail  of  the  Unitcid  Stat(!S,  |)id)lished  at  IMiiladelphia,  improved  to  the  1st 
of  jamiary,  IHIS.  IhU,  if  the  source  of  tlie  Arkiuisas  Uiver  shall  b(;  l(»und 
to  liiU  north  or  south  of  latitude  I'i,  tluni  the  line  shall  run  from  the  said 
source  due  south  or  north,  as  the  case  may  be,  till  it  meets  the  said  paral- 
lel of  latitude  42,  and  thence,  along  the  said  parallel,  to  the  South  Sea. 
All  the  islands  in  the  Sabine,  antl  the  said  Red  and  Arkansas  Rivers, 
throughoiU  the  coiu'se  thus  described,  to  belong  to  the  United  States;  but 
the  use  of  the  waters  and  the  navigation  of  the  Sabine  to  the  sea,  and  of 
the  said  Rivers  Roxo  and  Arkansas,  throughout  the  extiuit  of  the  said 
bouiulary,  on  their  respective  banks,  shall  be  connnon  to  the  respective 
inhabitants  of  both  nations. 

"The  two  high  contracting  parties  agree  to  cede  and  renounce  all  their 
rights,  claims,  and  pretensions  to  the  territories  described  by  the  said 
line ;  tliat  is  to  say,  the  United  States  hereby  cede  to  his  Catholic  Majesty, 
and  renounce  forever  all  their  rights,  claims,  and  pretensions  to  the  terri- 
tories lying  west  and  south  of  the  above  described  line ;  and,  in  like  man- 
ner, his  Catholic  Majesty  cedes  to  the  said  United  States  all  his  rights, 
claims,  and  pretensions  to  any  territories  east  and  north  of  the  said  line ; 
and  for  himself,  his  heirs,  and  successors,  renounces  all  claim  to  the  said 
territories  forever." 


(4.) 

Convention  hchoecn  the  United  States  und  Jiussia,  sicfned  at  Saint  Peters- 

Inirifh  on  the  ^\  of  April,  1821. 

"  AuT.  1.  It  is  agreed  that,  in  any  part  of  the  great  ocean,  commonly 
called  the  Pacific  (.)ccan,  or  South  Sea,  the  respective  citizens  or  sid)ject3 
of  the  high  contracting  Powers  shall  be  neither  disturbed  nor  restrained, 
either  in  navigation  or  in  fishing,  or  in  the  power  of  resorting  to  the  coasts, 
upon  points  which  may  not  already  have  been  occnjjied,  ll)r  the  purpose 
of  trading  with  the  natives  ;  saving  always  the  restrictions  and  conditions 
determined  by  the  following  articles  : 

"  AuT.  2.  With  the  view  of  preventing  the  rights  of  navigation  and  of 
fishing,  exercised  upon  the  great  ocean  by  the  citizens  and  subjects  of  the 
high  contracting  Powers,  from  becoming  the  pretext  for  an  illicit  trade,  it 
is  agreed  that  the  citizens  of  the  United  States  shall  not  resort  to  any  point 
where  there  is  a  Russian  establishment,  without  the  permission  of  the 
governor  or  commander;  and  that,  reciprocally,  the  subjects  of  Russia 
shall  not  resort,  without  permission,  to  any  establishment  of  the  United 
States  upon  the  northwest  coast. 

"Art.  3.  It  is,  moreover,  agreed  that,  hereafter,  there  shall  not  be  formed 
by  the  citizens  of  the  United  States,  or  under  the  authority  of  the  said 
States,  any  establishment  upon  the  northwest  coast  of  America,  nor  in  any 
of  the  islands  adjacent,  to  the  north  of  54  degrees  and  40  minutes  of  north 
latitude;  and  that,  in  the  same  manner,  there  shall  be  none  formed  by  Rus- 
sian subjects,  or  under  the  authority  of  Russia,  south  of  the  same  parallel. 

"Art.  4.  It  is,  nevertheless,  understood,  that  during  a  term  of  ten  years, 


I,  to  tlio  lliver 
Ilk  of  tlic  Ar- 
liat  piirallcl  of 
I  in  iVIclisli's 
v«mI  to  tliu  1st 
>li!)ll  b(.'  iliuiid 
from  tilt!  said 
lu!  said  paral- 
le  South  Soo. 
aiisas  Rivers, 
'd  Status ;  but 
ho  sea,  and  of 
lit  of  th(j  said 
the  respective 

>uncc  all  their 
I  by  tlie  said 
holic  Majesty, 
IS  to  the  terri- 
.,  in  like  nian- 
ill  his  rii,dits, 
tiie  said  hue; 
iin  to  the  said 


Saint  Peters 


in,  commonly 
ns  or  sulijects 
lor  restrained, 
f  to  the  coasts, 
)r  the  purpose 
nd  conditions 

gation  and  of 
lubjects  of  the 
llicit  trade,  it 
rt  to  any  point 
lission  of  the 
rts  of  Russia 
of  the  United 

not  be  formed 
ty  of  tlie  said 
ca,  nor  in  any 
iiutes  of  north 
rmed  by  Rus- 
sarne  parallel. 
1  of  ten  years, 


221 

counting  from  tlie  signature  of  the  present  convention,  the  ships  of  both 
I'owers,  or  which  Ixilong  to  their  citizens  or  subjects,  respectively,  may 
rccinrocally  Iri'tpient,  without  any  himlrancc  whatisver,  the  interior  stras, 
gulls,  harbors,  and  creeks,  u|)on  the  coast  mentioned  in  the  preceding  arti- 
cle, f(n*  the  purpose  of  fishing  and  trading  with  the  natives  of  the  country. 
*'  AuT.  i").  All  spirituous  li(|uors,  fire-arms,  other  arms,  powder,  and  mu- 
nitions of  war  of  every  kind,  are  always  excepted  from  this  same  com- 
niorco  permitt(!d  by  the  preceding  article;  and  the  two  Powers  engage, 
reciprocally,  neither  to  sell,  nor  sutler  them  to  be  sold  to  the  natives,  by 
their  respective  citizens  and  subjects,  nor  by  any  ])ers()n  Avho  may  be  under 
their  authority.  It  is  likewise  stipulated,  that  this  restriction  shall  never 
afford  a  pretext,  nor  be  advanced,  in  any  case,  to  authorize  either  search 
or  detention  of  the  vessels,  seizure  of  the  mercliandiso,  or,  in  fine,  any 
measures  of  constraint  whatever,  towards  the  merchants  or  tlie  crews  who 
may  carry  on  this  commerce  -,  the  high  contracting  I'owers  reciprocally 
reserving  to  themselves  to  determine  upon  the  penalties  to  be  incurred, 
and  to  indict  the  punishments  in  case  ot  the  contravention  of  this  article 
by  their  respective  citizens  or  subjects." 

(5.) 

ConrcntioH  between  Great  nHtnin  ati'f  lhissin,sisi-nefhtt  Saint  Petershtrnf/f, 

Februar !/  'i"g,lS25. 

*'  Art.  1.  It  is  agreed  that  the  respective  subjects  of  the  high  contract- 
ing parties  shall  not  be  troubled  or  molested  in  any  part  of  the  ocean,  com- 
monly called  the  Pacific  Ocean,  either  in  navigating  the  same,  in  fisliing 
therein,  or  in  landing  at  such  parts  of  the  coast  as  sliall  not  have  been 
aheady  occupied,  in  order  to  trade  with  the  natives,  under  the  restrictions 
and  (;oiiditions  specified  in  the  lollowiiig  articles  : 

"yViit.  2.  In  order  to  prevent  the  right  of  navigating  and  fishing,  exer- 
cised upon  the  ocean  by  the  subjects  of  the  high  contracting  parties,  from 
becoming  the  pretext  l<)r  an  illicit  commerce,  it  is  agreed  that  the  subjects 
of  his  nritaniiic  Majesty  shall  not  land  at  any  place  where  there  may  be  a 
Russian  establishment,  without  the  permission  of  the  governor  or  com- 
mandant; and,  on  tlie  other  hand,  that  Russian  subjects  shall  not  land, 
without  permission,  at  any  IJritish  establishment  on  the  northwest  coast. 

"AuT.  3.  The  line  of  demarcation  between  the  possessions  of  the  high 
contracting  parties,  upon  the  coast  of  the  continent,  and  the  islands  of 
America  to  tlie  northwest,  shall  be  drawn  in  the  manner  (oUowing:  (Joni- 
mencing  from  the  southernmost  p<iint  of  the  island  called  Prince  "Wales 
Island,  which  point  lies  in  the  parallel  of  54  degrees  40  minu.-  .  ;ortli 
latitude,  and  between  the  I31st  and  the  133d  degree  of  west  longitude, 
(meridian  of  Greenwich,)  the  said  line  shall  ascend  to  the  north  along  the 
channel  called  Portland  Channel,  as  far  as  the  point  of  t!;i'  continent 
where  it  strikes  the  50th  degree  of  north  latitude.  From  'lis  last  men- 
tioned point,  the  line  of  demarcation  shall  follow  the  suiiiiait  of  the  moun- 
tains situated  parallel  to  the  coast,  as  far  as  the  point  of  intersection  of  the 
i41st  degree  of  west  longitude,  (of  the  same  meridian.)  And,  finally,  from 
the  said  point  of  intersection,  tlie  said  meridian  line  of  the  141st  degree,  in 
its  prolongation  as  far  as  the  Frozen  Ocean,  shall  form  the  limit  between 
the  Russian  and  British  possessions  on  the  continent  of  America  to  the 
northwest. 


222 


%M 


"  AuT.  4.  With  reference  to  the  line  of  demarcation  laid  down  ni  the 
preceding  article,  it  is  understood — 

"  1st.  That  the  island  called  Prince  of  Wales  Island  shall  belong  wholly 
to  Russia. 

"  2d.  That  whenever  the  summit  of  the  mountains  which  extend  in  a 
direction  parallel  to  the  coast,  from  the  56th  degree  of  north  latitude  to  the 
point  of  intersection  of  the  141st  degree  of  west  longitude,  shall  prove  to 
be  at  the  distance  of  more  than  ten  marine  leagues  from  the  ocean,  the 
limit  between  the  British  possessions  and  the  line  of  coast  which  is  to 
belong  to  Russia,  as  above  mentioned,  shall  be  formed  by  a  line  parallel 
to  the  windings  of  the  coast,  and  which  shall  never  exceed  the  distance 
often  marine  leagues  therefrom. 

"  Art.  5.  It  is,  moreover,  agreed  that  no  establishment  shall  be  formed 
by  either  of  the  two  parties  within  the  limits  assigned  by  the  two  prece- 
ding articles  to  the  possessions  of  the  other ;  consequently,  British  sub- 
jects shall  not  form  any  establishment  cither  upon  the  coast,  or  upon  the 
border  of  the  continent  comprised  within  the  limits  of  the  Russian  posses- 
sions, as  designated  in  the  two  preceding  articles;  and,  in  like  manner,  no 
establishment  shall  be  formed  by  Russian  subjects  beyond  tlie  said  limits. 

"Art.  6.  It  is  understood  that  the  subjects  of  liis  Britannic  Majesty, 
from  Avhatever  quarter  they  may  an'ivc,  whether  from  the  ocean,  or  from 
the  interior  of  the  continent,  shall  forever  enjoy  the  right  of  navigating 
freely,  and  without  any  hindrance  whatever,  all  the  rivers  and  streams 
which,  in  their  course  towards  the  Pacific  Ocean,  may  cross  tlie  line  of 
demarcation  upon  the  line  of  coast  described  in  article  3  of  the  present 
convention. 

"Art.  7.  It  is  also  understood,  that,  for  the  space  often  years  from  the 
signature  of  the  present  convention,  the  vessels  of  the  two  Powers,  or 
those  belonging  to  their  respective  subjects,  shall  mutually  be  at  liberty 
to  frequent,  without  any  hindrance  whatever,  all  the  inland  seas,  the  gulfs, 
havens,  and  creeks  on  the  coast,  mentioned  in  article  3,  for  the  purposes 
of  fishing  and  of  trading  with  the  natives. 

"  Art.  8.  The  port  of  Sitka,  or  Novo  Archangelsk,  shall  be  open  to  the 
commerce  and  vessels  of  Britisli  subjects  for  the  space  of  ten  years  from 
the  date  of  the  exchange  of  the  ratifications  of  the  present  convention.  In 
the  event  of  an  extension  of  this  term  of  ten  years  being  granted  to  any 
other  Power,  the  like  extension  shall  be  granted  also  to  Great  Britain. 

"  Art.  9.  The  above  mentioned  liberty  of  commerce  shall  not  apply  to 
the  trade  in  spirituous  liquors,  in  fire-arms,  or  other  arms,  gunpowder,  or 
other  warlike  stores ;  the  high  contracting  parties  reciprocally  engaging 
not  to  permit  the  abovementioned  articles  to  be  sold  or  delivered,  in  any 
marmer  whatever,  to  the  natives  of  the  country. 

"Art.  10.  Every  British  or  Russian  vessel  navigating  the  Pacific  Ocean, 
which  may  be  compelled  by  storms  or  by  accident  to  take  shelter  in  the 
ports  of  the  respective  parties,  shall  be  at  liberty  to  refit  therein,  to  provide 
itself  with  all  necessary  stores,  and  to  put  to  sea  again,  without  paying 
any  other  than  port  and  light-house  dues,  which  shall  be  the  same  as 
those  paid  by  national  vessels.  In  case,  hov/ever,  the  master  of  such  ves- 
sel should  be  under  the  necessity  of  disposing  of  apart  of  his  merchandise 
in  order  to  defray  his  exi)enses,  he  shall  conform  himself  to  the  regula- 
tions and  tariffs  of  the  place  where  he  may  have  landed. 

"Art.  U.  In  every  case  of  complaint  on  account  of  an  infraction  of  the 


[  down  111  the 

belong  wholly 

h  extend  in  a 
latitude  to  the 

shall  prove  to 
the  ocean,  the 
ist  which  is  to 

a  line  parallel 
d  the  distance 

hall  be  formed 
the  two  prece- 
^,  British  sub- 
5t,  or  upon  the 
xissian  posses- 
ke  manner,  no 
ihe  said  limits, 
mnic  Majesty, 
ocean,  or  from 
of  navigating 
s  and  streams 
>ss  the  line  of 
of  the  present 

years  from  the 
^vo  Powers,  or 
y  be  at  liberty 
seas,  the  gulfs, 
r  the  purposes 

be  open  to  the 
ten  years  from 
invention.  In 
granted  to  any 
eat  Britain, 
dl  not  apply  to 
gunpowder,  or 
cally  engaging 
ivered,  in  any 

Pacific  Ocean, 
5  shelter  in  the 
rein,  to  provide 
vithout  paying 
e  the  same  as 
er  of  such  ves- 
is  merchandise 
:"  to  the  regula- 

[ifraction  of  the 


223 

ai'ticles  of  the  present  convention,  the  civil  and  military  authorities  of  the 
high  contracting  parties,  without  previously  acting,  or  taking  any  forcible 
measure,  shall  make  an  exact  and  circumstantial  report  of  the  matter  to 
their  respective  courts,  who  engage  to  settle  the  same  in  a  friendly  man- 
ner, and  according  to  the  principles  of  justice." 

(6.) 

Convention  between  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain,  signed  at  London, 

Avffust  6,  1827. 

"Art.  1.  All  the  provisions  of  the  third  article  of  the  convention  con- 
cluded between  the  United  States  of  America  and  his  Majesty  the  King 
of  the  United  Kingdom  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  on  the  20th  of  Octo- 
ber, I81S,  shall  be,  and  they  are  hereby,  further  indefinitely  extended  and 
continued  in  force,  in  the  same  manner  as  if  all  the  provisions  of  the  said 
article  were  herein  specifically  recited. 

'•Art.  2.  It  shall  be  competent,  however,  to  either  of  the  contracting  par- 
ties, in  case  either  sliould  think  fit,  at  any  time  after  the  20th  of  October, 
1 82S,  on  giving  duo  notice  of  twelve  months  to  the  other  contracting  party, 
to  annul  and  abrogate  this  convention;  and  it  shall,  in  such  case,  be  ac- 
cordingly entirely  annulled  and  abrogated,  after  the  expiration  of  tlie  said 
term  of  notice. 

"Art.  3.  Nothing  contained  in  this  convention,  or  in  the  third  article 
of  the  convention  of  the  20th  October,  1818,  hereby  continued  in  force, 
shall  be  construed  to  impair,  or  in  any  manner  aflect,  the  claims  which 
either  of  the  contracting  parties  may  have  to  any  part  of  the  country  west- 
ward of  the  Stony  or  Rocky  Mountains." 


INDEX. 


tr. 


Page. 


Adams's,  J.  QL;  correspondence  with  the 
Russian  Government 
respecting  American 
fur-traders  in  the  north 
Pacific 
correspondence  with  the 
Russian  IMinister  at 
Washington,  respect- 
ing; the  ukase  of  1821 
Aguilar  .s  voyage  -  .  . 

Alarcon's  voyage  in  search  of  Cibola 
Aleutian  Islands ... 
Aliaska    .... 
Arteaga's  voyage 
Ashley's  trading  expeditions  from  Mis 

souri  to  the  Far  West 
Astoria  founded  .... 
taken  by  the  British 
restored  to  the  Americans 


147 


181 

-  45 

-  29 

-  5,65 
4 

84 

194 
157 
161 
165 


B. 

Balboa  discovers  the  Pacific      .  -22 

Baranofi",  Governor  of  Russian- America  1 45 
founds  New  Archangel  -  145 
establishes  a  Russian  colony  in 

California      -  -  -    148 

attempts  to  take  possession  of 

one  of  the  Sanciwich  Islands    149 

Becerra  discovers  California     .  .24 

Beering's  first  voyage     -  -  -      59 

second  voyage  -  -60 

third  and  last  voyage  -  -61 

death   -  -  .  -     63 

Benyowsky's  voyage  from"  Kamschatka 

to  China  -  -  .  .67 

Berkely  rediscovers  the  Strait  of  Fuca      91 
Billing's  voyage  ...  go  132 

Blue  Mountains  -  .  .  .16 

Bodega  and  Maurelle's  first  voyage      -     71 
second  voyage  -     84 
Broughton  surveys  the  lower  part  of  the 

Columbia  River    .  -    136 

sent  to  receive  possession  of 

Nootka      -  -  -    141 

Bulfinch's  Harbor  discovered  by  Gray  .    126 

surveyed  by  Whidbey    135 


Caamano's  voyaere         ...  122 
Cabeza  Vaca's  jnirney  from  Florida  to 

the  Pacific        .           .           .           -  27 

Cabrillo's  v(  viij;e           -          .          -  31 


Page. 
9 

24 


California  described       -  ♦ 

discovered      ... 
unsuccessful  attempts  of  the 

Spaniards  to  settle  in  it 
occupied  hy  the  Jesuits    - 
first  colonies  on   its  western 
side  ... 

Carver's  journey  ... 

Cavendisli's  voyage        ... 
Cermefion's  voyage        ... 
Cibola,  fabulous  account  of        - 
Clarke  and  Lewis,  expedition  of 
Colnett's  voyage .  -  .  • 

Columbia  River  described 

its  moath  first  discov- 
ered by  Heceta 
sought  tor  in  vain  by 

Meares 
sought  for  in  vain  by 

Vancouver  . 
first  entered  by  Gray  . 
survey  of  the  lowerpart 

by  Broughton 
examined  by  Lewis  and 

Clarke 
first  settlement  on  it  by 
Henry 
Convention  of  1790,  between  Great  Brit. 

ain  and  Spain      •       114,171 
of  1818,  between  the  United 
States    and    Great   Brit, 
ain    .  .  .    169,219 

of  1834,  between  Russia  and 

the  United  States     -    180,  220 
of  1825,  between  Russia  and 

Great  Britain      ■        181, 221 
of    1827,    between    Great 
Britain   and   the  United 
States       .  .        185,223 

Cook  s  last  voyage         -  -  .78 

death       -  .  -  .82 

Coronado's  expedition  in  search  of  Gib. 

ola        .  .  .  .  .29 

Cortereal  discovers  the  Strait  of  Anion      39 

Cortes  conquers  Mexico  -  -     23 

expeditions  of,  on  the  Pacific     -     24 


48 
49 

53 
76 
38 
34 
28 
152 
106 
18 

72 

93 

124 
126 


.    136 


152 


-    156 


Dixon's  voyage   -          .  .          -      87 

Douglas's  voyage           .  .          .101 

Drake's  voyage   -          -  -         35  201 

Duflin's  evidence  respecting  the  events  ' 

at  Nootka  in  1789      -  .       108, 133 


S36 


p. 


Page. 


m- 


Falkland  Islands,  dispute  between  Gr^at 

Britain  and  Spain  respecting  the         -      51 
Fidalgo's  v'oyage  -  -  .  -     US 

Fleunen's  Introduction  to  Marchands 

Journal-  -  -  -  71,  119 

Florida  explored  by  Narvaez     -  -      27 

by  Soto  -  -      31 

Florida  treaty      -  -  -         170,219 

Fonic,  fabulous  account  of  his  voyage      41 
Forsyth's,  John,  instructions  to  the  Amer- 
ican minister  at  Saint  Petersburgh,  re- 
specting the  renewal  of  the  fourth  ar- 
ticle of  die  convention  of  1824  -    189 
Forts  Vancouver,  Okanagan,  and  Col 
ville       .            -            .           .           . 


Fuca's  voyage 
Fur  trade,  Russian 
British 
American 


20 
42,  207 

-  58,  64,  144 

-  84,  87, 192 
89,  143,  156, 194 


G. 


Gali's  voyage       -  -  -  -      33 

Galiano  and  Valdes,  voyage  of  -         122,  130 
journal  of  -  -    131 

Gallatin's   negotiations    at   London    in 

1826 183 

Gray's  first  voyage  -  -  -      89 

second  veyage     .  -  .    129 

Gray  discovers  Bulfinch's  Harbor  -    125 

enters  the  Columbia  River  -    126 

and  Ingraham's  letter  toduadra  132, 210 

PI. 

Harmon's  Journal  ...    155 

Hearne's  journeys  -  -  -      75 

Heceta's  voyage  -  -  -  -      71 

Heceia  discovers  the  mouth  of  the  Co- 
lumbia -  -  -  -  -      72 
Howell's  account  of  the  negotiation  be- 
tween   Vancouver   and    duadra    at 

Nootka 134 

Hudson's  Bay  discovered  •  -47 

Hudson's  Bay  Company  established       -      75 
Hudson's  Bay  Company  united  with  the 

Northwest  Company    ...    175 
Hudson's  Bay  Company,  particular  ac- 
count of  its  system        .  .  -    192 
Humboldt's  accounts  of  the  northwest 
coast  nearly  all  derived  from  Navar- 
rete        -           -           -           .           -      34 
Hunt — see  Astoria. 

I. 

Ingraham's  voyage  -  .  -    120 

Journal,  extract  from  -    134 

Ingraham  and    Gray,  letter   from,   to 
auadra  •  .  .        132,210 

J. 

Jesuits  establish  themselves  in  California     48 
are  expelled  from  California      -      50 
Jesup's,  General  T.  S.,  plan  for  occupy- 
ing the  Columbia         •  •  'ITS 


Page. 
Jewitt's  account  of  his  captivity  at  Nootka    M;! 

K. 


Kamschalka  described    -  -  - 

conquered  by  the  Russians 

Kcndrick's  voyage  .  .  . 

Kendrick  purchases  land  from  the  In- 
dians at  Nootka 
commences  the  trade  in  san- 
dalwood between  the  Sand- 
wich Islands  and  China     - 

Kodiak  described 

Krenitzen  and  Levaslief 's  voyage 

Krusenslern  and  Lisiansky's  voyages    - 


■> 

.S9 
1-21 


1-2-2 

6,  (;.-> 

66 
147 


110 
66 
19 


152 

119 


Ledyard's  attempt  to  proceed  from  Paris, 
through  Russia  and  America,  to  the 
United  States     .... 
Levashef  and  Krenitzin's  voyage 
Lewis  or  Snake  River  described 
Lewis  and  Clarke's  expedition  from  the 
United  States  to  the  mouih  ot  the  Co- 
lumbia in  1805-'6         ... 
Louisiana,  supposed  extent  of,  in  the  north 
and  we^.t 
not  limited  on  the  north  by  the 
49ih  parallel,  agreeably  to 
the  treaty  of  Utrecht,  as  gen- 
erally supposed        •         150, 216 

M. 

Mackenzie's  journeys      ...  I3i» 

Magellan's  voyage          -           -           .  2'J 
Malaspina's  voyage         -           .           .US 

Maldonado's  pretended  voyage   .          40,  205 

Maquinna,  king  of  Nootka     90,  101, 132,  142 

Marchand's  voyage         -           -           -  119 

observations  of  no  value      -  119 
Marcos  de  Niza's  fabulous  account  of 

Cibola 28 

Martinez,  first  voyage  of            -           -  96 

occupies  Nootka          .           -  104 

seizes  two  Portuguese  vessels  105 

seizes  two  English  vessels      .  107 

abandons  Nootka        -           -  ]  10 
Maurelle's  journal  of  his  first  voyage  in 

the  north  Pacific    -           -  71 

journal  of  his  second  voyage  85 
McDougal — see  Astoria. 

Meares's  voyage  from  Macao  to  Nootka  100 
Meares  auempts  to  penetrate  the  Strait  of 

Fuca    .           -          -          -  92 
attempts  to  find  the  mouth  of  the 
great  river,  now  called  the  Co- 
lumbia-         .           -          -  93 
it  is  pretended bjr  the  British,  dis- 
covered the  River  Columbia  -  129 
falsehood  of  many  of  his  state- 
ments proved  ...  100 
Mendoza's  voyage           .           -          -  24 
Monroe's,  President,  declaration  that  the 
American  continents  are  not  to  be  con- 
sidered as  subjects  for  colonization  by 
European  Powers        -           -          .178 


Pa£?e. 

tyatNootka 

U-2 

■} 

he  Russians 

"jS 

. 

Si) 

rom  the  In- 

I 

1-21 

rade  in  san- 

cn  the  Saiid- 

d  China     - 

lJ-2 

G 

,  (i.> 

oyage 

ti(3 

s  voyages    - 

117 

\  from  Paris, 

erica,  to  the 

. 

110 

)yage 

(iii 

ibed 

1"J 

ion  from  the 

ih  of  the  Co- 

«                          a 

152 

f,  in  the  north 

■ 

119 

north  by  the 

agrtieabiy  to 

echt,  a»  gen- 

l        -         150 

2U) 

139 

.                       • 

•2-i 

. 

lis 

\ge   -          40 

205 

90,  101, 132 

112 

. 

119 

no  value 

119 

i  account  of 

. 

28 

. 

9(5 

. 

104 

guese  vessels 

105 

h  vessels 

107 

. 

110 

rst  voyage  in 

flc    -  -      71 

cond  voyage      85 


ao  to  Nootka 
E  the  Strait  of 

mouth  of  the 
ailed  the  Co- 

e  British,  dis- 
:  Columbia  - 
of  his  state- 


ition  that  the 
lot  to  be  con- 
lonization  by 


100 
92 

93 

129 

100 
24 


-    178 


227 


Monterey  settled  by  the  Spaniards 
Multonomah  or  Wallamei  River 

N. 


Page. 
-  53 
20, 198 


Navarrelc's  Inlroduclion  la  the  Journal 

of  the  Suiil  and  Mexicana       -           -  131 

Nootka  Sound  described              -            -  8,  90 

discovered  by  Perez        -           -  70 

visited  by  Cook  -            -           -  80 

great  resort  of  the  fur-traders    -  70 

occupied  by  the  Spaniards          -  104 

claimed  l)y  the  British    -           -  117 

aliandoned  by  the  Spaniards      -  110 

re-occupied  by  iho  Spaniards     -  118 

finally  abandoned           •           -  141 
Northwest    Fur-tradiiig    Company,    of 

Montreal,  esiablished  -            -            -  139 
Northwest  Fur  trading  Company's  first 
establishment  west  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains     .....  155 
Northwest  Fur-trading  Company  united 
with  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company        -  175 

O. 

Oregon,  River  of,  nsdescribed  by  Carver, 

does  not  exist  -            -            -  77 
name  of,  probably  invented  by 

Carver             -            -            -  77 
name  of,  should  be  retained       -  128 
terruory  described           -            -  12 
Owyhee  ceded  by  its  sovereign  to  Van- 
couver, for  Great  Britain         -           -  138 


Perez,  voyage  of  -           -           -  -  fi9 

discovers  Nootka  Sound  -  -  70 

Porouse,  voyage  of          -            -  -  87 

Philippine    Islands    comjuered    by  the 

Spaniards          ....  32 

Porilock's  voyage             -           -  -  91 

Promuschleuiks   -            .            -  -  140 


a. 


132 


Cluadra,  Spanish  commissioner  at  Nootka 
dueen  Chailotte's,  or  Washington's  Isl 
and        ....  7,  1-23 


R. 


Rocky  Mountains  described 

Rodman's  journey  across  the  continent 

from  the  Missouri  to  the  Pacific 
Rush's  negotiation!!  at  Londcm  m  IH18   - 

in  1824  - 
Russian  discoveries  in  America 
Russian-American  Company  established 
Russian-American    Company'^^   system, 

account  of  the    - 


S. 


San  Dirgo  described 


settled  by  the  Spaniards 
San  Francisco  Bay  described 


11 

140 
1(>4 
179 
58 
145 

14G 


9 

53 

9 


Sandwich  Islands  discovered  by  Cook 

described 
Shellikof  makes  the  first  Russian  setilc- 

mcnis  on  iho  American  continent 
Sitca  described     -  .  .  . 

founded       .  .  .  . 

Snake  or  Lewis  River  described 
Strait  of  Fuca  described - 
discovered 

re-discovered  by  Berkely 

eiitert'd  by  Gray  - 

completely    explored    by 

Vancouver    an!  Gaii- 

ano  and  Valdes 

Strait  of  Anian,  supposed  to  be  Hudson's 

Sirait,  discovered  by  Corierenl 


Page. 

82 
■     198 


88 

141 

145 

19 

8 

42 

91 

92 


130 
39 


Sutil  and  Mexicana,  voyage  of  the     122,  130 


Tamahamaha,  king  of  the  Sandwich  Isl- 
ands, cedes  Owyhee  to  Great  Britain  -     138 
Treatv  of  Pailitidn  between  Spain  and 

Portugal  -  -  -      21 

of  Utrecht  between  Great  Bi  itain 

and  France      -  -  -     150 

PMorida,    between    the     United 
Slates  and  Spain  -         170, 219 

Tschirikof  discovers  the  American  con- 
tinent    -  .  -  -  .63 


U. 


Ukase  of  the  Russian  Emperor,  issued  in 
1821,  prohibiting  foreigners  from  tra- 
ding in  (he  north  Pacific  -  -     17(5 

Ulloa's  voyage,  in  which  he  discovers  the 
west  coist  of  California  -  -      2(> 

Unalashka  described       -  -  -        5 

United  Slates  vessels  first  visit  the  north 
Pacific 89 

United  States  treaties,  respecting  the 
northwest  coasts:   with  Great  Britain 


Urdaneta  discovers 


185,  219, 
with  Spain  170, 
with  Russia  180, 
the  mode  of  navi- 


1()9, 
223 
219 
220 


gating  the  Pacific  from  east  to  west    -      32 


Vancouver  sails  to  the  Pacific     -  -     117 

explores  tin'  coast  from  Cape 

Mendocino  to  the  Sirait  of 

Fuca  -  -  -    123 

meeisGray,  whoinfiirrns  him 

of  t  he  discovery  of  i  he  great 

river  ...    124 

surveys  the  Strait  of  Fuca  -  130 
ncgoliations  of,  with  Cluadra, 

at  Nootka  -  -  -    132 

orders  Broughion  to  examine 

the  Columbia  River  -    135 

attempts  to  rob  Gray  of  the    136 

merit  of  his  discoveries  -  136 
his    animosity    against    the 

Americans  -         133,  139 

his  other  discoveries  -    136 

his  death       -  -  -    139 


528 


Page. 
Vancouver,  great  value  of  the  journals 

and  charts  of    -  -  -  *    ^39 

Vizcaino's  voyage,  and  survey  of  the 

west  coast  of  California  -  -      4C 

W. 

Wallamet,or  Multonomah  River.  Amer- 
can  oieltlement  -  -  -  20, 198 

Washington's,  or  Clueen  Charlotte's 
Island,  first  circumnavigated  by  Gray     92 

Washington  Isles,  in  the  South  Pacific, 
first  discovered  by  Ingraham  -  -    ISO 


Page. 
Whidbey  surveys  Bulfinch's  Harbor  -  135 
Wiccanish,  king  ofNittinat       -  -     91 

seizes   the   American   ship 
Tonquin,  and  murders  the 
crew         ...    158 
Wyeth's  attempt  to  form  an  American 
trading  settlement  on  the  Columbia    -    120 


YoutaLake        -  -  •  -     17 


Page. 

's  Harbor 

135 

t 

91 

nerican   ship 

1  murders  the 

. 

158 

m  American 

Columbia    - 

12G 

17 


4 


